This Minneapolis tattoo studio is offering anti-ICE tattoos

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January 28, 2026Beauty / Beauty newsBeauty / Beauty newsThis Minneapolis tattoo studio is offering anti-ICE tattoos

As outrage mounts in Minneapolis, Tokki Tokki studio has been offering ‘Chinga la migra’ tattoos to the community

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The ongoing ICE operations and the killings of citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents have upended the Minneapolis community. The events have sparked widespread protests, as the city confronts the unchecked violence of state power. Among those responding is Tokki Tokki Tattoo studio, located downtown in the city.

Alongside assembling protest supply kits, painting protest signs and selling “fuck ICE” bandanas, the resident artists have been offering “Chinga la migra” tattoos, a Spanish phrase that loosely translates to “fuck the border patrol” or “fuck immigration”. It’s a phrase that has emerged as a direct response to ICE’s targeted persecution of Latinx communities in the US.

“I came into work after the murder of Renee Good, and my coworker and I were just so devastated and angry. My coworker just pointed at her arm and said ‘Chinga la migra,’ implying she wanted it tattooed on her. I didn’t even hesitate to tattoo it on her. After I posted the photo to Instagram I just started to get so many requests for that exact tattoo,” explains Rebecca Smith, one of the studio’s resident artists.

Since then, Smith has done many versions of the tattoos, in different fonts and sizes, at a heavily discounted rate. When she shared a collage of the fresh ink on social media, she said it was heartwarming to see the community rally together. “I think the fact that they are permanent just shows a real devotion to the people. This isn’t a phase. We are here together. We care about humans and we always will. What ICE is doing is wrong and we won’t stand for it,” Smith says. On Friday, the studio will be hosting a ‘donation flash day’, collecting food and household items for the community in exchange for tattoos (or even if you aren’t getting a tattoo!).

Below, we talk to the artist about Tokki Tokki studio, the Minneapolis community, and the overwhelming response to the tattoos.

Can you tell us about the studio and what kind of environment you’ve built there?

Rebecca Smith: Tokki Tokki is an all-female, POC/queer-owned tattoo shop located in downtown Minneapolis. We try our best to be a safe space for our community and clients. We are a passionate group of artists. But just like any tattoo shop, we are a little weird and completely happy to be that way. We love how different all our clients are, but they all share the same beliefs about what is going on in our community.

How do you see your studio within the community?

Rebecca Smith: Community is huge to us. We love our community and want to support them as much as we possibly can. We are taking donations for food and to pay rent for people in need, and seeing the amount of support from everyone has just been so overwhelming. It proves that the people of Minneapolis are people who care. It’s truly inspiring and heartwarming.

What has the reaction been to the “Chinga la migra” tattoos?

Rebecca Smith: The reaction has been honestly so surprising! It has really just been incredible seeing so much support from Minneapolis. It’s been a little light in my life in such a dark time.

What kinds of conversations happen in the room while these tattoos are being done?

Rebecca Smith: The main topic that’s getting talked about truly comes down to ‘Fuck ICE’ and what we can do to help and stop all this. I am hearing the stories of ICE in people’s neighbourhoods – how they are stalking their children’s schools and how they are taking their neighbours.

What does the energy in and around the studio feel like right now?

Rebecca Smith: The energy is definitely passionate. It is a feeling of togetherness and sadness, but we love each other so much and we are trying to stay as positive as possible.

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