David Guttenfelder Documents ICE Crackdown in Minneapolis at Visa pour l'image

At the Visa pour l'image festival in Perpignan, France, running until September 13, photojournalist David Guttenfelder presents his documentation of the mass protests in Minneapolis following the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both shot by ICE agents in January 2026. Guttenfelder, a resident of Minneapolis, found himself photographing his own community for the first time, a situation he described as profoundly different from his previous assignments in Ukraine and the Middle East. He noted the ethical challenges of documenting neighbors and friends while maintaining journalistic integrity. His images capture protesters suppressed by police, thousands braving the cold to demonstrate against Donald Trump's immigration policies, and the rapid community mobilization. Guttenfelder was struck by the fact that the most impactful photos were not taken by professionals but by bystanders documenting events as evidence. He also recalled seeing weapons similar to those used in war zones pointed at protesters, including himself. The festival, which honors photojournalists worldwide, also features reports on wars, humanitarian crises, and geopolitical upheavals. The exhibition is part of the broader program of Visa pour l'image, which this year also commemorates the late founder Jean-François Leroy.