Minneapolis Faces Greater Challenges Than Expected

I call Minneapolis home, having grown up nearby in a suburb of St. Paul. After spending time on both coasts, my wife and I returned to raise our daughters in this cold state that has always embraced us. However, the situation has taken a dark turn with over 3,000 ICE agents occupying the city for three weeks now, and the end doesn’t seem to be in sight. Friends from across the country have been reaching out, asking, “Is it really as bad as it looks from the outside?”

My response is straightforward: it’s worse. Since the pandemic, I haven’t experienced such a jarring disruption to daily life. Back then, despite the chaos, there was a sense of unity among most Americans that life would be better without Covid-19. But with ICE, there’s no such comfort. They are a heavily armed, masked force occupying Minneapolis, and there’s no pretense about their intentions. This is a campaign of revenge, and they are the enforcers.

Their incompetence doesn’t lessen their threat. The tragic death of Renee Good at the hands of an immigration enforcement agent was compounded by the lies spun by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and the FBI’s refusal to provide evidence for a state investigation. It’s clear that ICE operates without fear of consequences, especially with Trump in power.

In the days that followed, ICE agents have acted with impunity. They are often under-trained, masked to avoid identification, and backed by an administration that seems to encourage violence in the streets. As I write this, Trump is considering invoking the Insurrection Act and sending in paratroopers. My concern for those opposing ICE is significant enough that I contemplated publishing this anonymously.

The second question I get is, “Are YOU okay?” That’s a tougher one to answer. The truth is, I’m not. Despite the evidence of the Trump administration’s cruelty, I wasn’t prepared for this level of chaos and violence in my city.

ICE’s presence is a constant threat for residents. Public schools have closed because the state can’t guarantee student safety. Many businesses, especially those owned by immigrants, remain shut to protect staff and customers from potential raids. Nonwhite Minnesotans, regardless of their citizenship status, are essentially sheltering in place, avoiding grocery runs and doctor visits to stay safe at home, where ICE needs a warrant to act.

There’s a right-wing narrative that anyone resisting ICE must be a paid protestor, but the reality is quite the opposite. Many of us have families, jobs, and bills to pay, yet we dedicate countless unpaid hours to protect our community. As a white U.S. citizen, I’m among the “lucky” ones; while ICE could detain me, I’m less likely to be targeted. So far, I’ve avoided serious trouble with my young children, but I know that luck may not last.

In the past two weeks, I’ve become a volunteer driver, helping nonwhite individuals get to work and home. They pull hoods over their heads before exiting the car, entering homes adorned with Christmas decorations. I wait until they’re safely inside.

With no other options, parents have organized through platforms like Signal and WhatsApp. I’ve taken shifts as a security guard outside schools and community centers, ready to alert others if ICE shows up. I’ve marched, fundraised, and boycotted businesses like Target, which has failed to stand up for our community.

What I’m doing feels insufficient, but I remind myself that it’s better than doing nothing. The most uplifting aspect of this troubling time is witnessing the strong pushback from Minnesotans of all backgrounds. High school students have organized walkouts, and parents are patrolling neighborhoods, alerting others to ICE’s presence. My father-in-law, a devout Catholic in his 70s, made a sign reading “Love Thy Neighbor” and joined thousands rallying against ICE in the cold.

This year has been particularly tough for Minneapolis. The assassination of a state representative and Trump’s callous response still sting. Many yards display pink signs of support after a tragic shooting at a local school. The memory of George Floyd’s murder looms large, reminding us of the violence that continues to plague our streets. How much more can this city endure?

We’ll find out. Lately, I wake up more enraged than exhausted and go to bed more exhausted than enraged. I’ve been eating out more than usual, trying to support local businesses, even if many remain closed. I bought a pack of whistles and offered them to neighbors, but they all had their own.

The community is united in outrage, action, and even humor. Local businesses have become hubs for resources and activism. We share ICE sightings over Signal and keep an eye on local forums. When a conservative influencer announced an anti-Muslim march, group chats lit up with the same Tom Hardy GIF, signaling our readiness to respond.

We talk about the resources ICE is wasting and how challenging it will be for them to maintain this aggressive stance. We hope that Trump’s impatience will lead him to abandon this fight or that he’ll lose interest and redirect his focus elsewhere.

But we also know we will prevail. Time is on our side. ICE may have the funding and federal backing, but we are the ones who live here. As the city’s greatest musician once said, the cold keeps the bad people out. When ICE agents finally leave, we’ll still be here.

I always end my messages to those checking in with this: wherever you are, get organized now. Identify your like-minded neighbors. Set up your Signal chats. Get some whistles (I can share if you need them). This administration has shown that Minneapolis is just the beginning, and when they come to your city, you’ll want to be prepared.