ICE Actions + Response
Things You Can Do
1. BE INFORMED:
Know Your Rights with ICE (Immigrant Defense Project)
Know your rights amid rising ICE activity in MN (Sahan Journal)
What ICE agents can and can’t do (Star Tribune)
What to do if ICE stops you (MPR News)
What to Do if Immigration Comes to Your Workplace (National Immigration Law Center)
Comprehensive Guidance on Personal Safety & Rights (City of Minneapolis)
Common questions from Minneapolis business owners (City of Minneapolis)
Preparation & Response Resources for Immigrants & Community Allies (Welcoming America)
2. NOTIFY. If you witness (firsthand) ICE staging, detaining someone, or are being pursued 612-441-2881 is the MONARCA rapid response hotline, and 612-255-3112 is COPAL. When reporting ICE activities, try to provide “1SALUTE” relevant info:
1st Person Encounter • "I am witnessing a raid."
Size + Strength • "2 to 3 vehicles.” / “ICE and local police."
Actions + Activity • "They just picked up someone."
Locations + Directions • "Uptown, corner of Lake and Girard."
Uniform + Clothing • "Plain clothes with bulletproof vests."
Time + Date • "4:45 PM, Monday, Feb. 17."
Equipment + Weapons • "Body armor, K9 unit, armed officers."
Free or discounted towing is available if someone is detained and their car is left behind: Galeana's Towing (Minneapolis) and Leo’s Tow (St. Paul).
3. OBSERVE. Some neighbors are choosing to attend Observer training with MONARCA, learning how and when best to track, record, and put passive pressure on ICE activities in high-risk places (school dropoff/pickup, businesses, etc). Trainings fill up fast!
4. PROTEST. ICE protests are being organized by various organizations on social media. If you plan to attend, know how to protest peacefully and lawfully. Do not escalate the federal forces.
5. DONATE, monthly if you have the means! Some groups providing support to targeted communities:
Joyce Uptown Foodshelf / Hunger Solutions (monetary donations stretch further)
6. 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗘 information, events, and action steps. In conversation, email, and/or social media. Memes don’t create change, actions do. Social media posts only reach a fraction of your circles these days, so most of these other steps are more effective.
7. 𝗕𝗢𝗬𝗖𝗢𝗧𝗧 companies enabling these events. Relay your boycott to their local and corporate offices for strongest impact. Alternatively, you can contact the employee unions to learn how to apply pressure toward corporate policy changes. Companies with active ICE contracts are listed here.
8. C𝗔𝗟𝗟 + 𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗟 your state reps (Dems and Reps) to call for the litigation and removal of all those involved for crimes against U.S. residents. This is most effective when done weekly—contact info here.
9. 𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬. Shop your local immigrant-, queer-, and BIPOC-owned businesses. Join clubs, volunteer, bring family and friends, meet new people, participate in community events and mutual aid.
10. 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬. Reach out to your local school, community center or faith center to see how they need help chipping in. See something? Film it. Find your nearest protest groups or immigrant advocates, find out what they need help doing, and do it. Doing it with friends is even better.
11. 𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗘. Never finished that 2020 reading list about race, capitalism, mutual aid, and the U.S. histories they’d rather we forget? Dig back in, maybe with a book club. Revisit current federal priorities and resident rights during ICE encounters.
12. 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗜𝗧 to the Jan. 23 Day of Truth and Freedom, a Tax Strike, and/or the General Strike.
Groups You Can Follow or Join
Minneapolis Response to Federal Actions
On Jan. 12, Minneapolis, along with the State of MN, and the City of Saint Paul, jointly filed a lawsuit to stop the federal government’s unlawful, unconstitutional, and dangerous federal immigration actions in our state.
Federal law enforcement is targeting immigrant communities, the federal government is suing Minneapolis, and the Trump administration is threatening to deploy the military in major cities. Minneapolis will not waver in our mission to protect your safety and stand up for our core values. Click here for updates.
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid and Volunteer Lawyers Network offer free legal clinics, and Minneapolis has drop-in hours every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 2-4 p.m. at 777 E. Lake St. through the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs.