Statement on ICE Plan to End Surge

On Behalf of the ICE Out of Minnesota Coalition (sign on orgs listed below)

Minnesota Labor, Faith, Community Groups Issue Statement on Announcement of ICE Plan To End Surge Minnesota, Make Clear Need for Justice for Those Detained and Harmed By Surge

MINNESOTA - Following Border Czar Tom Homan declaring Operation Metro Surge has concluded as part of its political damage control with DHS funding being debated, representatives from labor, faith and community groups who are part of the ICE Out of Minnesota coalition are speaking out about the development.

Groups are recognizing this retreat from the federal occupation brought forward by regular Minnesotans while making clear that that the fight for justice is not over for the scores of Minnesotans who were killed, assaulted, had their civil rights violated or otherwise felt the negative impacts of the chaos brought by ICE:

“President Trump thought he could break us, but he was wrong. Over the last three months Minnesotans showed our country what it means to stand up to tyranny and protect our communities. In the coldest months of winter, when it would have been easy to stay home and look the other way, we bundled up, headed out into our communities and said ‘no.’

“These masked agents leaving our state can be spun any way people want, but history will show what this was: regular people, clergy and teachers, janitors and soccer moms, people across all of our complicated differences, simply refusing to let our neighbors be attacked and abducted without a fight. The level of solidarity shown by Minnesotans should be an example for everyone and we couldn’t be more proud of our state.

“While we are thrilled that this wave of attacks is seemingly being significantly scaled back, we must acknowledge the deep harm and trauma these last few months have brought to our state. Thousands of families torn apart. Alex Pretti and Renee Good murdered in our streets. Thousands of Minnesotans attacked and their civil rights violated simply for bearing witness. Students fearful to go to school, local small businesses having to shutter their doors.

“Our state continues to be held together by the bravery and solidarity of our residents, with no help from the corporations or those in power. We delivered groceries and stood guard outside of daycares. We formed neighborhood groups, held a historic day of no work, school or shopping, and we marched by the tens of thousands to make clear our demand for ICE to leave our state. We will continue to support our local business and blow our whistles.

“Many Minnesotans were forever changed by these surges, and as we work to recover, our coalition will continue to call for these demands and others to help repair the harm done by this illegal attack on our state:

Bring home everyone who was illegally taken to other states, including the children imprisoned in horrible conditions in places like Texas
Drop charges against the peaceful constitutional observers and prosecute ICE and federal agents for illegal practices during the operation
Stop funding for an ICE agency that has proven violent and unaccountable
Support for the small businesses and workers who are facing hardship, evictions and closures because of the attacks on our state.
No new increased cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE, also known as 287(g) agreements.

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CTUL

Faith in Minnesota

Jewish Community Action

Minnesota Nurses Association

Minnesota AFL-CIO

Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation

Saint Paul Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO

SEIU Minnesota State Council

SEIU Local 26

TakeAction Minnesota

Unidos MN

UNITE HERE - Local 17