Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building

Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building
Whipple Building in 2014
Interactive map of the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building area
General information
Architectural styleModernist
Location1 Federal Dr
Fort Snelling, Minnesota
United States
Coordinates44°53′39″N 93°11′42″W / 44.894164°N 93.194927°W / 44.894164; -93.194927
Year built1965
Opened1969
OwnerGeneral Services Administration
Technical details
Floor count7
Floor area617,600 square feet
Design and construction
Architecture firmCerny Associates
Renovating team
ArchitectsHGA Architects and Engineers

The Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building is a 7-story building at 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, north of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. It is named after Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple. It is home to a number of federal offices, including a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office,[1] and has housed others over its history. It came to prominence in 2025 as the base of operations for the United States Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota.[2] It is serviced by the Metro Blue Line Fort Snelling station.

History

The building was originally built in 1965 at a cost of $14,054,807.[3] Designed by the firm Cerny Associates, it contains 7 floors and approximately 700,000 square feet (65,000 m2) of space.[4] It houses agencies such as the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Department of Defense, and the United States Department of Homeland Security. It was renovated in 2014 by HGA Architects and Engineers.[5] The improvements earned the building LEED Gold certification.[6]

Bishop Whipple

Further information: Henry Benjamin Whipple

Bishop Whipple was the first Episcopal bishop of Minnesota and interceded with President Abraham Lincoln to pardon most of the 303 Dakota people who were sentenced to death after the Dakota War of 1862. The building was named after the bishop at the request of then-Senator Walter Mondale when it opened in 1969. In 2019, the Episcopal Church in Minnesota, the Minnesota Council of Churches and other organizations initiated an effort to have Whipple's name removed from the building. Daniel Romero, a leader of the Interfaith Coalition on Immigration, was quoted as saying, "We believe that Bishop Whipple is turning over in his grave. Bishop Whipple himself would never have endorsed his name going on a building where so much fear and terror is manifested."[7]

Role in immigration enforcement

Immigration enforcement (ICE) protests

The building has been the site of several protests and demonstrations against United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In 2016, activists rallied for the release of eight Cambodian-American refugees, referred to as the "Minnesota 8", that had been detained by ICE.[8] In 2018, eighteen protestors were arrested during a demonstration that had blocked the light rail tracks adjacent to the building.[9] In July 2019, a "Lights for Liberty" vigil was held in front of the building ahead of the deployment of ICE raids in several cities.[10] Also in July of that year, 200 mostly-Jewish activists protested at the building against ICE polices.[11] In October 2019, protestors led by Minnesota Episcopal Church gathered at the building to demand its name be changed.[12] In October 2025, a large protest was held at the building during a visit by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.[13]

Operation Metro Surge

During Operation Metro Surge, the Whipple Building became the base of operations for the surge of ICE agents, as well as the site of numerous protests, leading to clashes between the two sides.[2] This has resulted in barricades and fences being installed around the building[14] and the regional Veterans Affairs office being temporarily closed and relocated to the Minneapolis VAHCS Medical Center.[15] Conditions for detainees in the building during this time have been reported as being inhumane, with detainees describing crowded detention areas, and no access to food or medical care.[16] In January 2026, Minnesota Congressional representatives Angie Craig, Ilhan Omar and Kelly Morrison were not allowed to conduct an oversight visit, with Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stating that they did not provide a seven-day notice for their visit.[17] Later that month, the Minneapolis-based group The Advocates for Human Rights filed a class action lawsuit alleging that detainees have also been denied access to legal counsel.[18]

References

  1. ^ "St Paul Field Office | ICE". www.ice.gov. April 3, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  2. ^ a b Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas (January 23, 2026). "The Whipple Building is at the Center of Minnesota's Immigration Drama". The New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  3. ^ "Minneapolis, MN Military Entrance Processing Station". USMEPCOM. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  4. ^ "B.H. Whipple Federal Building". bhwhipple.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  5. ^ "1965 Government Building Gets a Comprehensive Modernization". Hammel, Green and Abrahamson. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  6. ^ "Whipple Building's $170M Rehab Already Paying Off". www.gsa.gov. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  7. ^ "Minnesota clergy, ICE critics want bishop name off building". MPR News. Associated Press. October 28, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  8. ^ "Activists rally in support of 'Minnesota 8,' refugees facing deportation to Cambodia". NBC News. November 4, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  9. ^ Nelson, Tim (May 22, 2018). "Deportation protesters block Minneapolis light rail; 18 arrested". MPR News. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  10. ^ Rao, Maya (July 13, 2019). "Ahead of ICE raids, Minnesota immigration advocates spring into action". Archived from the original on September 5, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  11. ^ Jackson, Zoë (July 30, 2019). "Group protesting ICE policies briefly blocks traffic near MSP, Fort Snelling". The Minnesota Star Tribune.
  12. ^ "ICE Critics Protest Outside Bishop Henry Whipple Building, Demand Name Change - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. October 29, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  13. ^ Griffith, Madison McVan, Michelle (October 24, 2025). "Hundreds protest DHS Secretary Noem during press conference at Fort Snelling • Minnesota Reformer". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved February 2, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Skluzacek, Josh (January 12, 2026). "Concrete barriers, fence installed as 'hundreds more' federal agents come to Minnesota". KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  15. ^ "ICE presence disrupting some Ramsey County services". Twin Cities. January 13, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  16. ^ Forgrave, Reid; Du, Susan; Magan, Christopher (January 31, 2026). "'No humanity': Detainees describe conditions inside Whipple Federal Building". The Star Tribune. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  17. ^ "3 congressional lawmakers say they were denied access to ICE facility in Minneapolis - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. January 10, 2026. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  18. ^ Mosedale, Mike (January 29, 2026). "Lawsuit: DHS blocking lawyers from meeting with detainees • Minnesota Reformer". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
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