OtherWords
Alliyah Lusuegro
02/11/2026
For many families, Target is a familiar stop: a place to grab school supplies, home goods, snacks, or the latest entertainment device — all under one roof. It’s the kind of store woven into everyday life.
But as footage of federal immigration agents brutalizing immigrants and citizen protestors alike spreads across the country, some shoppers are beginning to ask a hard question: what does it mean to shop at a company that is cooperating with ICE and Border Patrol?
In Minnesota, where Target is based, Target isn’t just another retailer. It’s the fourth largest employer in the state and a cornerstone of Minnesotan cultural identity, with its red bullseye logo appearing across sports teams and city life.
And far beyond Minnesota, Target has long attracted customers with its modern, inclusive branding. Its ads and products celebrate different skin colors and body types, include people with disabilities, and mark observations like Black History Month or (until they scaled it back recently) Pride Month.
Yet the company has faced growing backlash in recent years — first for donating $1 million to President Trump’s inauguration, then for rolling back its DEI policies after Trump railed against them. Now advocates say that Target has crossed another line: allowing ICE and Border Patrol agents to enter and operate inside its stores.
