New details have emerged from an hours-long standoff between two men and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Dec. 13 that resulted in at least one man being detained.
Two men, Edgar Chicaiza Dutan and Marco Chicaiza Dutan, remained perched on the roof of a construction site in subzero windchills for approximately four hours while dozens of ICE agents faced off with a crowd of more than 80 activists and community members. Chanhassen police officers were also present, diverting traffic while the standoff unfolded.
After several hours, Edgar descended from the roof and was taken to a nearby hospital, an ICE spokesperson said in a statement shared with Sahan Journal.
“As a precaution, due to his exposure to cold temperatures, he was taken to a local hospital where he was evaluated and released to ICE,” the statement read.
Protesters face off with ICE Agents in Chanhassen in frigid temperatures, with two construction workers trapped on the roof of a new build they had been framing, on December 13, 2025. Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal 
A woman pleads with an agent to allow the stuck workers to receive blankets after hours surrounded by ICE on December 13, 2025. Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal 
Edgar Chicaiza Dutan is loaded onto a stretcher after deciding to leave the roof, having spent several hours in subzero temperatures on December 13, 2025. Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal 
Edgar Chicaiza Dutan is loaded into an ambulance after deciding to leave the roof, having spent several hours in subzero temperatures on December 13, 2025. Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal 
Marco Chicaiza Dutan remained stuck in the rafters of a new home build after his brothers arrest, while surrounded by ICE for hours on December 13, 2025. Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal 
Protesters face off with ICE Agents in Chanhassen in frigid temperatures, with two construction workers trapped on the roof of a new build they had been framing, on December 13, 2025. Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal 
Protesters face off with ICE Agents in Chanhassen in frigid temperatures, with two construction workers trapped on the roof of a new build they had been framing, on December 13, 2025. Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal 
ICE agents leave the scene with one of the workers still on the roof, after over 4 hours in sub-freezing tempertaures, on December 13, 2025. Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal 
Protesters form a human chain as the remaining framer is escorted out by family and medics, at least 4 frigid hours after climbing onto a roof with ICE agents surrounding his job site, on December 13, 2025. Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal 
At least 4 frigid hours after climbing onto a roof with ICE agents surrounding his job site, Marco Chicaiza Dutan is escorted to warmth by family on December 13, 2025. Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal 
Protesters face off with ICE Agents in Chanhassen in frigid temperatures, with two construction workers trapped on the roof of a new build they had been framing, on December 13, 2025. Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal
Edgar is currently in custody pending removal proceedings at Freeborn Adult Detention Center. Marco remained on the roof after Edgar was taken to the hospital and was eventually able to leave after ICE agents had departed. Marco was also taken to a nearby hospital according to state Rep. Alex Falconer, DFL-Eden Prairie, who was present at the scene.
Tensions between agents and community members occasionally flared, though conflict between the sides was generally limited to verbal exchanges. One woman was pushed to the ground by an agent as he passed through a crowd, and agents also pushed people back when family members of the men tried to pass through the established line of police tape. No chemical irritants or non-lethal weapons were used.
Falconer told Sahan Journal that he was active in communicating with both ICE agents and the crowd to keep things under control.
“A situation like this could easily devolve into something dangerous,” Falconer said. “They could easily decide they want to respond with chemical agents or physical force, and I just did not want it to get there.”
Falconer spoke with several agents who said they did not have a judicial warrant. He also said multiple agents at the scene did not know the names of either Edgar or Marco.
In a statement shared with Sahan Journal, an ICE spokesperson said Marco was the subject of the operation. Marco was arrested in March 2024 for domestic violence and pled guilty to disorderly conduct, police reports and court records show.
The statement did not mention any criminal record for Edgar, who has been in the country since 2019, according to court records.
It is unclear whether the men were working at the site at the time of the operation. According to the government statement, the men had fled from an ICE vehicle into the construction site, although a fundraiser set up by their family said they had been working.
On Tuesday, attorneys for Edgar filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus and an emergency motion for temporary restraining order to prevent Edgar from being transferred out of Minnesota. A U.S. District Court judge ordered federal agencies to respond to the petition by Friday. Sahan was unable to reach Edgar’s attorneys for comment.
Marco’s status is unclear. As of Wednesday, ICE’s Detainee Locator System had no record of him being in custody.
