It is appalling to see the unconstitutional actions of the Trump administration in the ICE invasion of Minnesota. And the cruelty is astounding.
Just like Jewish residents of Berlin in the 1930s, many neighbors go about their daily business in fear of federal agents abducting them at their workplace, houses of worship, or when they are picking up their kids from school. People are living in terror.
Lifelong US citizens are afraid to leave their homes because ICE agents don’t think they belong here due to their ethnic background. It is even worse for others in our community – naturalized U.S. citizens of Somali descent or Afghan refugees, not-yet-citizens, brought to America after assisting our military. People who are here legally, are made “illegal” simply by a Presidential decision to remove their legal status.
The explicit racial targeting of non-white people is appalling. It violates everything that we stand for. It is un-American.
Heavily armed ICE agents, without a judicial warrant, break down the front door of a house in St Paul to abduct a man, bringing him out into bitter cold temperatures in his shorts and sandals, terrorizing him and his family including a young grandson. When they eventually release him, there is no apology, no effort to pay for the damage, nothing.
ICE agents go through our neighborhoods, searching for people to brutally arrest. They abduct young children – even preschool age children and ship them to Texas before the courts can intervene. They stop cars with no probable cause, even smashing car windows, simply to see if people are citizens. ICE agents spray chemical irritants on observers who have done nothing illegal. They shoot and kill an unarmed mother in her car, as she tries to drive away.
Resources
The sudden loss of our constitutional rights calls on us to speak out in resistance to the unconstitutional actions of federal government agents. As incredible as it may be, we need to defend our neighbors who are targeted for abduction because of their race. I will continue speaking out, fighting against this horrific behavior, and working to protect all Minnesotans. Here are a few links to resources that may be helpful in your work:
For resources about Constitution Rights, Legal Assistance, Emergency Contacts, Community Support: https://senatedfl.mn/immigration-resource-toolkit/
Immigration issues are the jurisdiction of the federal government, and state level officials do not have the power to intervene on behalf of detainees. To reach our Federal Government legislators, contact Rep. Betty McCollum or Sen. Amy Klobuchar or Sen. Tina Smith.
For a brochure from the Minnesota Attorney General: Know your Rights with ICE.
To report violations of constitutional rights (racial profiling, excessive force, retaliation against protesters, observers, and media), or other incidents or effects related to or caused by recent federal actions in Minnesota, including but not limited to: business closures, reduced healthcare access, reduced education access, other issues impacting public safety and civil liberties, federal funding cuts, federal grant terminations, terms and conditions tied to federal program participation, other administrative actions by Federal agencies. Fill out this Attorney General Federal Action Reporting Form.
In the News
Like so many other ICE actions: This is simply cruel!
Abducting an innocent 5 yr old preschool child & rushing him off to Texas is just mean. Is there no point at which Republicans in Congress will stand up to this cruelty? For our constitutional rights? bringmethenews.com/minnesota-ne…
