Legislative Update - Reporting ICE Violations

Dear Neighbors, 

We’ve unfortunately seen a growing list of atrocities from ICE agents in our community and throughout Minnesota, with more federal officers adding to their numbers at the start of this week.

That’s not even including the news many of us woke up to yesterday morning - that ICE had shot yet another person in North Minneapolis. There’s much we don’t know about this incident, but thankfully it appears there were no life-threatening injuries. As with the killing of Renee Good, this incident deserves to be investigated, we can’t just rely on partisan narratives to see justice done.

On Wednesday, I joined colleagues and community members to update the public on the ways our federal immigration officers are operating outside the bounds of law, harassing and brutalizing citizens and immigrants alike, making all of us less safe. 

But we also had a message to share with Minnesotans: We are so proud of you, for all of the ways you are standing up to meet this moment, to support our neighbors and protect our communities. We are strong, united, and we aren't going anywhere.

You can catch my full remarks here. 

Local leaders will regularly gather to provide these updates for as long as ICE is harassing our communities. You can find these updates here, with another taking place at noon today.

Minnesotans are looking out for their neighbors and standing up against the unlawful actions we’ve seen from ICE agents in our communities. Now, Attorney General Keith Ellison has a website to report and compile these violations. If your rights have been violated by federal immigration agents, as we have seen happen with increased regularity in recent days, please let the Attorney General's Office know about it.

This too shall pass, and when it does, this is where accountability starts!

As has become common practice these days, I’ll leave you will these 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 and 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