Dear Neighbors,
While those leading ICE’s occupation of Minnesota have been softening their rhetoric and indicating a drawdown of agents is imminent, the reality of what’s happening in communities paints a completely different picture. Federal agents continue to terrorize neighborhoods, detaining people without cause, busting through car windows, harassing legal observers, withholding critical medications, and flying families with legal status to Texas only to release them with no way home. Workers and businesses are facing challenges rivaling the COVID-19 pandemic. Evictions are on the verge of soaring. Many students don’t feel safe leaving home to attend school. This is all on top of the tragic killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
A federal judge has said ICE likely violated more court orders in January alone than some agencies have in their entire existence. Despite the Trump administration’s campaign of intimidation, fear, and retribution, I remain hopeful because of Minnesotans’ unwavering dedication to looking out for their neighbors and making their voices heard. This unconstitutional and inhumane federal overreach and its consequences are unacceptable. It’s time for Operation Metro Surge to end and for ICE to leave Minnesota.
Town Hall Meeting
Amid the backdrop of ICE’s continued occupation and the difficulties our community has experienced, the 2026 Minnesota Legislative Session begins next Tuesday. To preview the session, Rep. Katie Jones, Sen. Scott Dibble, and I invite you to a Town Hall Meeting in Minneapolis next Wednesday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m. We’ll talk about our plans to make life more affordable for families, increase our state’s resilience to targeted attacks from the Trump administration, and ways we can invest in our communities. Mostly though, we want to answer your questions and hear your ideas. We hope you can join us.
Please click here or scan the QR code in the graphic to RSVP, and you’ll receive the location prior to the event.
Protecting Minnesotans’ Constitutional Rights
In my last update, I shared a bit about the bill I plan to introduce this coming session to allow Minnesotans to sue federal officials in state court when their constitutional rights are violated. Federal courts have made it exceedingly difficult to hold officials accountable when they trample on people’s rights, and considering the high volume of unreasonable searches and seizures, property destruction, speech suppression, and excessive use of force, Minnesotans deserve a legal remedy. I recently spoke with KARE 11 and NewsNation about my proposal.
Some might claim that at the state level, we don’t have a say in holding ICE accountable. I don’t believe that could be any further from the truth, and my DFL colleagues and I recognize our responsibility to step up for our communities. Wheels are in motion for a variety of bill ideas that have come from Minnesotans, including ICE’s use of face coverings, their presence at schools, emergency support for housing, and others. This session will also give our Republican colleagues across the aisle an opportunity to show if they stand with Minnesotans and the rule of law, or if they will continue their blind loyalty to Donald Trump.
Please continue to be in touch with your ideas, input, or if I can ever be of assistance. These last couple of months have been incredibly difficult, but the care and resilience of Minnesotans continue to make me hopeful and proud.
It’s an honor to represent you.
Sincerely,
Rep. Jamie Long
DFL Floor Leader, Minnesota House of Representatives