Legislative Update - Responding to ICE in Our Community

Dear Neighbors, 

This has been another dark week for Minnesota. The senseless killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent amidst a surge of unjust federal actions against our immigrant communities has left many of our neighbors feeling devastated and angry. I share those feelings. 

My heart breaks for this loss of life and I join my colleagues that represent Minneapolis in demanding that ICE leave our state and face accountability for all of the ways they have made us less safe.

Since Wednesday’s tragedy, instead of toning down the rhetoric or calling back the 2,000 federal agents deploying into Minnesota’s streets, the Trump administration has doubled down on their efforts to terrorize our community and heighten tensions. 

It’s common practice for investigatory agencies in a jurisdiction to share resources in the aftermath of such a sensitive case as the shooting of Renee Good by a federal officer, but President Trump’s FBI has blocked the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension from accessing crucial evidence and information.

This will not get us closer to the truth and justice, far from it.

Today, I joined local leaders and Minneapolis officials to call on the federal government to bring the State back into the investigation. You can watch that press conference here. With or without federal cooperation, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced today that they will conduct their own investigations into Renee Good’s killing, and you can watch their press conference here.

But even as investigations begin, ICE’s rampage across Minnesota continues, including right in our backyard. Yesterday in Richfield, federal agents, including Greg Bovino, senior commander of US Border Patrol, entered Target without a warrant, physically assaulted, and arrested two Target employees, both who are U.S. citizens.

Madness.

They have now been released, but sustained injuries and untold trauma while their rights were trampled for no reason whatsoever.

If this doesn't make your blood boil, I don't know what will.

We are actively working to provide support to our community members. We are also communicating with Target about their responsibility to better protect their workers and customers. And we continue to call on ICE to GET OUT of Minnesota.

It has been a rough week, and the ones preceding it haven’t been that much easier, but what keeps me going is being reminded time and again that Minnesotans are looking out for one another. There are so much more of us that care about our neighbors than those that seek to hurt and divide. 

There’s nothing the Trump administration would like more than to show Minnesota falling apart under the immense amount of pressure they’re applying, but we’re coming together stronger than ever. 

I want to sign off with several resources, including helpful links to know your rights, help out your neighbors, and keep Minnesotans united:

• Richfield Community Volunteer Network: This is the best avenue to discover volunteer opportunities to support your neighbors in a variety of different ways.
• GOFUNDME to support the family of Renee Good.
• Join a food drive to support our Minneapolis neighbors who are scared to travel freely amidst this federal operation.
• Immigration Defense Network - Hotline for ICE sightings.
• Immigration Law Center - Crisis Line.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) - Know your rights information
• Immigration Legal Resource Center - Red Cards - Cards you can print to keep so that you know your rights.

As a reminder, my colleagues in the Senate DFL have put together a powerful and practical immigration resource toolkit. My colleagues in the House have also compiled immigration resources, and they are available for our neighbors in English, Spanish, Somali, and Hmong. 

Please share with loved ones, friends, and those who you think may benefit from the information. The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota is also providing legal support to Minnesotans who are detained by ICE.   

Above all, please stay safe, and look out for one another. 

In partnership, 

Michael Howard