A federal immigration enforcement operation at a Chanhassen construction site on Dec. 13 drew dozens of concerned residents, prompted confusion across local agencies, and left lingering questions about tactics and communication.

What Happened

On that morning, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents appeared at a townhome construction site in the Avienda development in Chanhassen.

According to hourly weather data for that day, air temperatures in Chanhassen were below zero through midday, with steady winds around 10-20 mph.

According to reporting by Eden Prairie Local News and CBS News Minnesota, two men working at the site ended up on the roof as agents surrounded the building. One man eventually came down and was taken by ambulance to Ridgeview Hospital before being transferred to ICE custody. The other reportedly remained in the rafters for several more hours.

The incident quickly gained attention on social media and local rapid-response networks. Community members tracking local ICE operations began arriving at the site in the late morning.

Witness Accounts

“I got there around 11 o’clock or so,” said Elise Boll, a Carver County resident who has attended local “upstander” trainings on how to safely document ICE activity. “Only the front of the property was taped off… from the back of the property there were no agents or tape.”

Boll said she grabbed a bag of hand and foot warmers from her car and walked toward the back of the building, hoping to get them to the men on the roof.

“I walked to the back of the house and an agent walked up and stopped me, and he immediately said, ‘You cannot throw those,’” she said. “He said, ‘No, you are not allowed to throw anything.’”

“The hand warmer package was clearly labeled,” Boll added. “And what bothers me is that in the media, they are showing people giving the man blankets and all sorts of stuff. But that didn’t happen until several hours into the situation, when the news crews started showing up and filming.”

Christina, a Chanhassen resident who asked to use only her first name, said she arrived at the scene late that morning as the crowd grew along the taped-off perimeter.

“We were told the sheriff’s deputies were originally far away, but a man went and strongly convinced them to come and be by the crowd, to witness at the very least, if not protect us,” she wrote in an email.

“The crowd was determined and on fire. Everyone was angry and sad,” Christina said. “As in Minnesota fashion, people brought things to share, such as hand warmers, food and coffee. Some people came, like me, ready for the cold. Some people were not dressed for it, but refused to leave. By 1 p.m., the crowd was getting more tense.”

She said that none of the supplies were allowed to be given to the men on the roof.

“He was so still, face away from the cold. ICE surrounded the building and would not allow anyone near. ICE was torturing him with the arctic air,” she claimed.

What Is Known

Eden Prairie Local News and Sahan Journal have reported that the men on the roof were brothers Edgar and Marco Chicaiza Dutan. Edgar came down from the roof first and was treated at a hospital before being transferred to the Freeborn County Adult Detention Center, where he remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. Marco stayed on the roof after agents left and was later taken to a hospital, according to published accounts. As of midweek, it was still unclear whether he was in ICE custody.

Over the course of roughly four hours, witnesses say the crowd grew from a couple dozen people to many more, as word spread and video clips began circulating online. Some people reported tense moments and shoving between ICE agents and those standing close to the police tape, while others focused on monitoring the scene and checking on one another in the cold.

Officials Respond

In a statement delivered during the Dec. 15 Chanhassen City Council meeting, Councilmember Mark von Oven explained why he decided to go to the construction site that day.

“I immediately knew I had a responsibility to represent the residents of Chanhassen, to observe and understand the situation that was occurring right here in our city,” he said. “The temperature was negative four. The wind chill was much colder than that. And yet, here are 100 people in our city watching two men freeze on a rooftop. Think about that for a second.”

Von Oven said that, based on what he learned afterward, the Carver County Sheriff’s Office was caught off guard by the situation.

“I had been made aware that Lieutenant Stan and his crew weren’t given any prior notice that ICE would be conducting an operation in Chanhassen,” he said. “They were not there to assist ICE, but rather to protect and serve as they always are… Their role, which I’m grateful for, was keeping all of us safe.”

Later in his remarks, he emphasized that the debate over immigration enforcement should not overshadow shared values in Chanhassen.

“The residents of Chanhassen, whether they vote Republican or Democrat, share common values,” von Oven said. “They want safe neighborhoods. They want a transparent government. They want the Constitution respected. They want common sense solutions… [and] that the rule of law, transparency and protecting constitutional rights aren’t partisan issues. They’re American issues.”

State Rep. Lucy Rehm said much of the feedback she’s hearing is about safety and escalation, not only from this incident but from recent immigration enforcement activity more broadly.

“People are concerned about safety and the escalation that we are seeing in our communities now that Operation Metro Surge has ramped up,” she wrote. “People are afraid to leave their homes, send their kids to school, shop, go to church or their mosque.”

Rehm mentioned that volunteers in Carver County (and beyond) had been proactively organizing days before the Chanhassen ICE raid, preparing residents “to be ready to step up and protect our peace-loving community.”

Rehm said she has spoken with Carver County Sheriff Jason Kamerud about residents’ concerns and about how local law enforcement interacts with federal agents.

“In Chanhassen, the CC deputies on the scene worked mostly on traffic control and parking. The CC deputies stated that they would not be intervening in a federal operation,” she wrote.

She added that “the people want the CCSO to take a more active role in protecting the people in their city” and said she plans to continue pressing on civil-rights concerns raised by the raid.

“I serve the people of this community and will continue to be a voice for everyone who works or lives in this district,” Rehm wrote. “We need to make sure that people’s constitutional rights are protected here. We also need to ensure that people know their rights. I will continue to work with other local leaders, elected or not, to ensure that Chanhassen and Chaska is a safe and healthy place for all.”

Daniel Kessler, a candidate for Minnesota Senate District 48 who joined the protest crowd late that morning, said the events reinforced his concerns about due process protections.

“All residents, whether citizens or not, and regardless of immigration status are afforded Due Process under the U.S. Constitution,” Kessler wrote. “Suspension of Due Process for anyone in the U.S. jeopardizes Due Process for everyone.”

“As a candidate for Senate District 48, at present, my role is to bear witness, show support for our community and provide information,” he added. “We have laws in place and a Constitution. Our Constitution is being ignored. I would support any legislation that would ensure Due Process is being followed and that all processes are transparent and fully disclosed.”

Ongoing Concerns

Christina expressed a similar view.

“I believe the current ICE situation has crossed a line,” she said. “Everyone believes that people who have committed high crimes should be charged and exported. Both Democrats and Republicans… Those men in the Chanhassen event were tortured. They were given a choice, either be detained by ICE or freeze.”

Some of the residents who responded to the scene had previously participated in bystander and ICE watch training, including programs offered locally by regional advocacy organizations. Those trainings teach volunteers how to safely observe law enforcement activity, document what they see, and help connect affected families with legal and social support.

As of publication, CCLN has requested comments from the Carver County Sheriff’s Office. This story will be updated if additional statements are received.

Numerous photos and videos taken at the scene can be viewed below.

ICE Incident: Additional Pics Videos
Photo credit: Dan Kessler
Note: Some videos contain shouting and strong language; viewer discretion advised.