Protests, skepticism continue in Minnesota following announcement that federal surge is ending
By: Nicole Ki and Estelle Timar-Wilcox (MPR News)
The Trump adminisration has spread too many lies to earn trust now.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Protests against the surge of federal immigration agents in Minnesota continued over the weekend — even after last week’s announcement by White House border czar Tom Homan that the operation is winding down.
While there’s relief — there’s also still fear, sadness, skepticism and anger in communities across the state.
Hundreds of people rallied at Jackson Square Park and marched on Central Avenue in northeast Minneapolis on Sunday.
They spoke out against any potential cooperation between local law enforcement and federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. And marchers — including Debra Larson of St. Paul — said they are wary about whether Operation Metro Surge is really coming to an end.
“No one believes it, we all know the truth,” Larson said. “They’re not going anywhere. I think they’re just trying to downplay it, but they are still doing raids as far as we know.”
And while law enforcement officials in the Twin Cities have said they did not change any policies to facilitate ICE leaving, there was still a lot of skepticism and doubt among those at the march, including Katie Sepehr of northeast Minneapolis. She questioned whether an end to the surge would just mean less transparency and awareness about immigration enforcement.
“The lack of visibility doesn’t make it any better. If it is really going behind closed doors, that’s not an improvement to any of the situation,” she said.
As for the end of Operation Metro Surge, Sepehr said she’ll believe it when she sees it.
Sunday’s march — organized by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee — included people carrying signs reading “We Love Our Immigrant Neighbors,” “Diversity Makes Us Stronger,” “Are We Great Yet?” and “Abolish ICE.” There were also people wearing blue bunny hats — like the one 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was wearing when he and his father were detained in the Twin Cities.
Along the way, some neighborhood residents came out of their homes to chant along with march organizers, some waving Mexican and Colombian flags.
Elsewhere in the Twin Cities over the sunny, unusually mild weekend, people were still mourning the two Minnesotans — Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti — who were fatally shot by ICE agents.
Ace Ronayne visited Pretti’s memorial to pay her respects. She said the ICE surge left her more distrustful of law enforcement. She also criticized local leaders for not doing more to keep Minnesotans safe.
“They’re like, ‘Oh, we’re here to protect you.’ Well, I ain't seen it. I ain’t seen y’all protect nothing. Nobody trusts law enforcement ever around here,” she said.
Ronayne said she carries her passport everywhere she goes and said she’ll continue to do that — until she sees with her own eyes that ICE is gone.
Along Nicollet Avenue, Renee Rippberger echoed those sentiments. The Minnesota native has been traveling back to the state to check in with friends since the surge started. She said she felt grief when she heard Homan’s announcement last week.
“You can’t trust that it’s over — and even if it is over, where are they going to send the agents next? Minnesota has been a victim of that, and while it would be wonderful to have Minnesota not be experiencing the terror that it has, I can only help but wonder — who’s next?”
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It is pretty amazing how many people are still turning out to march, observe, and protest. The protesters are beginning to look tired and more determined. This has become a new normal for people in Minneapolis.
So the funding for them to get paid doing this has not run out yet?
Believing Trump's bullshit is a profound mistake.
Put up or shut up! This is an actual grass roots movement. Do you think there are TENS of THOUSANDS of people there being paid ?
As that sounds , like Trump, Fckn RIDICULOUS !
$75 billion for the ICE crackdowns was included in the One Big Beautiful Bill. The ICE operations are costing more than the projected cost for the border wall. And now it appears Trump is planning to warehouse immigrants in the US rather than deport them.
The funding for Trump's BIGGER Big Government is safe. Unless Republican budget hawks push for another round of rescissions.
That's one of the reasons Minnesotans don't trust Tom Homan who reports directly to Trump. For Minnesotans this has become the new normal. They aren't paid to live here. They aren't paid to believe Trump's lies. The only mercenaries involved in what is happening are Federal hired guns.
Thank God Republicans did something right!
The ICE operations are costing more than the projected cost for the border wall.
We can deny federal funds to sanctuary districts and use it for ICE operations.
And now it appears Trump is planning to warehouse immigrants in the US rather than deport them.
If activist judges won't allow deportations we have to put them someplace.
That's one of the reasons Minnesotans don't trust Tom Homan who reports directly to Trump. For Minnesotans this has become the new normal.
You are confusing Minnesotans with migrants, activists and Somali refugees.
OK...
Minnesota Anti-ICE Activists Get $3.3 Million From Soros-Backed Charity You’ve Never Heard Of |
MINNESOTA MOB: AGITATORS ADMIT ON HIDDEN CAMERA WHO’S FUNDING THE PROTESTS - O'Keefe Media Group
Patel says FBI has found groups funding protests in Minneapolis: 'It's not happening organically'
Here's who's really behind the Minneapolis ICE resistance movement
Now, if you even open the links, you may not like the sources, but let's see if you can debunk them Of course, when you google if protesters are getting paid, left wing sources say no. I just debunked them with these easy to find links. So, which sources are telling the truth? Now it's your turn...
Put up or shut up...
Wait a minute....I thought leftists claim Trump is defying judges orders.....
They don't think he has the right to appeal evidently.
They think leftist activist judges have more of a right to run this country than does Trump and Republicans.
Actually that would require Congressional approval. Of course, destroying the Constitution allows any sort of criminal behavior.
So, Trump wants to take workers out of the labor pool and put them on the public dole? Now THAT sounds like a BIGGER Big Government operation. When did Trump Republicans steal Democrats' magic money tree?
All 500,000 of them, spread across the state. There might be 375,000 in the Twin Cities. Half of them are children. Are we supposed to be grateful Trump is saving Minnesota from drug dealing, rapist 5 year olds?
That's a lot of bucks for a little bang. But, hey, its only taxpayer money.
Well, let's see. $3,300,000 divided by 50,000 to 80,000 protesters (across the state) amounts to $42 to $66 apiece for six weeks.
Trump spent more than that for each vote he got in 2024.
I never said they paid well. I never said they were intelligent. More than likely it is a stipend to add to their welfare and unemployment
Well it appears Nerm put up, and someone should S up.
Who could live on those wages ?
What is it costing to deport these peoples ? 1/4 to a MILLION per ...?
That $ could go so far to help EVERYONE, not to finance Trumps' untrained army of goons. What a waste
Take your own advice.
I recommend placing these facilities right next to these judges courthouses.
I S tand up every day for realistic truth, as you S it on the pot
How about we fence them in an open field. If it was good enough for POWs it is good enough for them!
Well that's the thing. The US treated POWs as human. Unlike how many of these illegals treated people.
However I would have no problem bringing out the wood chipper for those who committed crimes against children.
Agreed.