**Target Employees Urge Company to Take a Stronger Stand Against ICE**
Target employees are pushing the company to take a firmer stance against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In a letter emailed to management on Friday, 284 employees called on Target to “do the right thing” by barring federal immigration authorities from its stores. Many of the signatories said they were residents of Minnesota, where Target is headquartered.
The letter, viewed by Business Insider, expressed concerns about what employees described as Target’s “continued inaction” in the face of the current administration’s immigration policies. It stated that such inaction “puts all of us at risk of more harm in our workplaces and represents a moral failure to protect those in our community.” The letter was addressed to current CEO Brian Cornell and incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke.
The timing of the letter coincided with escalating tensions in Minneapolis following a fatal shooting by federal agents. A day after the letter was sent, Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis resident, was shot and killed by federal agents, intensifying protests against the Trump administration.
The letter also referenced the January 7 death of Renee Good after her encounter with immigration authorities in Minneapolis. No charges have been filed in connection with Good’s death, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said there is currently no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the officer involved acted in self-defense, while Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has called for a transparent investigation into the incident.
Since receiving the letter, Target has taken several public steps. The company joined a statement alongside more than 60 other Minnesota businesses calling for de-escalation of tensions. Additionally, CEO Brian Cornell met with local faith leaders to discuss the situation.
On Monday, incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke addressed Target staff in a video message. While he did not mention Trump or ICE by name, Fiddelke acknowledged that “the violence and loss of life in our community is incredibly painful.”
Target, based in Minneapolis, employs approximately 7,000 corporate employees at its headquarters, out of roughly 440,000 employees worldwide. The company operates about 50 stores in the Twin Cities area.
The employee letter also criticized Target’s recent corporate decisions, highlighting the company’s scaled-back LGBTQ+ Pride collection, the winding down of certain Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and its $1 million donation to Donald Trump’s inauguration fund. These actions were cited as examples of how employees feel Target has “abandoned its community” in recent years.
Some of the demands outlined in the letter may be beyond Target’s legal authority, such as calls to block immigration authorities from company properties. Corporate immigration attorney John Medeiros told the Associated Press that law enforcement officers can generally operate in publicly accessible areas of retail businesses—including parking lots and sales floors.
Additionally, guidance from the Minnesota Attorney General’s office advises employees not to interfere with agents’ lawful activities at their workplaces. However, employees are not required to answer questions or disclose whether certain individuals are on the premises.
In a memo circulated last week, Target’s Chief Human Resources Officer Melissa Kremer stated that the company “does not have cooperative agreements with any immigration enforcement agency.”
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**Full Letter from Target Employees**
**TO:** Target Leaders
**FROM:** Concerned Team Members
**Date:** Friday, January 23, 2026
**Subject:** Urgent Actions to Protect Our Communities from ICE
We, the undersigned, write this letter to express solidarity with our neighbors, guests, and team members targeted by violence perpetrated by agencies like ICE, and to demand urgent action from the Target Enterprise and its leadership.
Target’s previous actions have left many rightfully concerned about its integrity. The company abandoned its community by scaling back its Pride collection year after year and by winding down DEI initiatives across the enterprise. Target’s decision to directly fund the current administration through a $1 million donation to Donald Trump’s inauguration, stating, “We work with elected officials at all levels of government to provide the best retail experience for the more than 2,000 communities we’re proud to serve,” is unprecedented.
The current ICE operations highlight the administration’s disregard for the communities in which Target operates, as seen in the tragic death of our neighbor Renee Good.
On the Saturday prior to this letter, tens of thousands of residents took to the streets at Powderhorn Park and Lake Street demanding ICE leave the Twin Cities. Now, on the day this letter was sent, residents and workers across the Twin Cities are joining protests and labor unions organizing a day of “no work, no school, no shopping,” showing the community’s collective power to fight back against rising authoritarianism.
Strength lies in open solidarity, and Target’s leadership has the opportunity to do the right thing. The Twin Cities community and Target team members already stand together—now leadership must act urgently.
Signed,
275+ Members of the Target Team
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*For more updates on this developing story, stay tuned.*
https://www.businessinsider.com/target-employees-urge-company-to-keep-ice-out-of-stores-2026-1
