A United Defense Against ICE

District Perspectives, District 65B

Operation Metro Surge and the recent deployment of 2,000 additional federal agents to the Twin Cities area have triggered an organized response from community leaders and Minnesotans across our state. Since their arrival, ICE and federal agents have been engaging in dangerous lawlessness that has resulted in Renee Nicole Good being killed by ICE agent Johnathan Ross. I am outraged by the FBI’s lack of cooperation with local law enforcement to ensure a fair and thorough investigation. Our communities demand justice and I will continue to fight alongside community leaders and elected officials across our state to demand transparency and accountability. No one is above the rule of law, no matter what the Trump administration contends.

The militarization and volatility used by ICE and federal agents show a historical pattern of displacement and marginalization that has long impacted Minnesota’s immigrant neighborhoods, from the 1956 destruction of the Swede Hollow colony to the clearing of the West Side Flats. 

Federal immigration tactics have elicited racial profiling of American citizens. Whether it is neighbors driving their cars to work or ICE entering places of business, these actions are blatantly racist and do nothing to improve public safety. They are a waste of taxpayer money and strip valued members of our community of their dignity.

MAGA and Republicans are now demonizing community organizations that lead trainings to inform Minnesotans of their rights against ICE. These trainings prepare everyday neighbors to be constitutional observers and better equip and inform all Minnesotans of their rights to defend and protect their neighbors. Led by immigrants, a unified front of community organizations is mounting a defense against ICE and federal operations, working tirelessly to protect the constitutional rights of all residents.

COPAL has been instrumental in this defense, managing a Rapid Response Line and a network of over 2,500 trained volunteers who document enforcement activity in real-time. The Monarca Rapid Response Line has been playing a crucial role in providing informative Upstander Legal Observer trainings and vital ‘Know Your Rights’ resources. Similarly, the Immigrant Defense Network (IDN) unites more than 90 organizations across the state to coordinate legal clinics and advocate for municipal resolutions that limit local police cooperation with federal agents. These efforts are mirrored by MN8, which provides specialized support for Southeast Asian communities facing unique detention challenges, and the ACLU of Minnesota, which has recently filed lawsuits to stop the unconstitutional detention of citizen observers. 

In our local district, I am proud of the collaborative work being led by the West Side Boosters, the West Side Community Organization (WSCO), and Neighborhood House. By working in lockstep with families, schools, teachers and elders, these organizations are ensuring that our youth remain at the center of our advocacy. This partnership emphasizes a vital truth: our collective well-being and the joy of our children are non-negotiable, especially during these challenging times. At a recent community event, the sentiment shared by West Side Boosters President Robert Cruz resonated deeply, serving as a powerful reminder that when we stand together we create a sanctuary of support for the next generation and creating joy is an act of resistance. 

Our children deserve to learn and grow in safety, not in a world where they must witness their friends being torn from their families. No child should have to watch their teachers take on extra hours to serve on “ICE watch” rotations instead of planning lessons or wonder why their bus drivers—the familiar faces that start their day—are suddenly missing from the neighborhood. When federal attacks disrupt our schools and streets, they don’t just target individuals; they steal the sense of security that every student needs to thrive. 

By creating a multiracial and multigenerational response, these organizations are ensuring that information and legal defense are accessible to every resident. This collective effort seeks to build a Saint Paul and a Minnesota that honor the immigrant labor that built the state and the cultural richness that continues to sustain it. By fighting for a community that gives everyone a fair chance, these advocates are working to ensure that no one has to live in the shadows of fear. 

The current movement is not just about protection; it is about ensuring that Minnesota remains a place where diversity is recognized as a source of strength rather than a target for exclusion. We need to stay united. As we support the local organizations on the frontlines, we must also continue to support local BIPOC and immigrant-owned businesses and artists/musicians.

I am deeply honored to stand in solidarity with the community leaders, advocacy organizations, and resilient Minnesotans who refuse to compromise on the human rights and dignity of our neighbors. Immigrants make Minnesota what it is today—vibrant, essential, and strong—and we are not going anywhere.