Why corporate America is hedging as immigration agents show up at its doors

"Across the Twin Cities, federal immigration enforcement operations have turned businesses into sites of confrontation - with agents in store parking lots rounding up day laborers, armed raids on restaurants, and work authorization inspections conducted in tactical gear. Some retailers report revenue drops of 50% to 80% as customers stay home out of fear. Along Lake Street and in East St. Paul, areas within the Twin Cities, an estimated 80% of businesses have closed their doors at some point since the operations began."

"The response of corporate America to those killings was instructive - both for what was said and left unsaid. After the Pretti killing, more than 60 CEOs from Minnesota's largest companies - Target, 3M, UnitedHealth Group, U.S. Bancorp, General Mills, Best Buy and others - signed a public letter organized by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. The letter called for "peace," "focused cooperation" among local, state and federal officials, and a "swift and durable solution" so that families, workers and businesses could return to normal."

U.S. Border Patrol agents entered a Target store in Richfield in early January and detained two employees, signaling heightened federal presence in retail spaces. Across the Twin Cities, immigration enforcement operations have turned businesses into confrontation sites, with parking-lot roundups, armed restaurant raids, and tactical work-authorization inspections. Many retailers reported revenue drops of 50% to 80% and an estimated 80% of businesses along Lake Street and in East St. Paul temporarily closed. After the killing of Alex Pretti, more than 60 CEOs signed a public letter calling for peace and coordinated solutions while avoiding direct criticism of federal enforcement or mention of the victim.

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