Local businesses in Minnesota are aiding the resistance against Immigration and Customs Enforcement, supplying anti-ICE activists and illegal aliens alike with food, housing, and legal support as part of a sophisticated network dedicated to obstructing deportation operations across the sanctuary state.The Minnesota chapter of 50501, one of the left-wing organizations behind the nationwide “No Kings” movement, maintains a list of community partners providing “mutual aid” in the state for agitators targeting ICE and illegal immigrants at risk of removal.
For instance, Latino-operated stores and markets in Minneapolis are delivering groceries for free to illegal immigrants too afraid to leave their homes due to increased enforcement operations.
Valerie’s Carniceria, a Mexican meat market in south Minneapolis, serves about 100 customers a week who are too scared to shop in person for fear of ICE capture. Alborada Market is offering free delivery for customers within a three-mile radius, while Daniel Hernandez, the owner of Colonial Market, is making deliveries himself. “The service — it’s a lifeline for them,” Hernandez told the Sahan Journal, a nonprofit newsroom covering immigration in Minnesota.
50501 Minnesota itself has organized a network of safe houses in the Minneapolis metropolitan area to help illegal immigrants evade enforcement.
In the event of ICE apprehension, 50501 Minnesota recommends detainees consult with Mai Neng Moua Law, a Minneapolis law firm helping clients “navigate” U.S. immigration law. When scheduling an appointment, illegal immigrants are able to get their consultation fee waived if they mention a referral from Minnesota 8, an anti-ICE group teaching followers to “resist deportation and detention.”
50501’s Minnesota arm also advertises several bail funds as well as a supply drive for those subsequently released from federal custody in Minneapolis.
The Midwest Immigration Bond Fund Coalition will pay the immigration bonds of arrested illegal immigrants upon request, and the National Lawyers Guild of Minnesota offers legal assistance, including bail money, in protest-related cases.
Any arrestee let out of the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, a facility serving as the city’s primary ICE detention site, can collect phones, clothes, and food covered via the Whipple Safe Haven fund. A team of on-site activists additionally provides cars for transportation.
A number of minority-owned towing companies in the Twin Cities, such as Leo’s Tow and Galeana’s Towing, are offering free towing services to people picked up by ICE “abductions” whose cars were abandoned or impounded.
As a prevention tactic, illegal immigrants are instructed to report ICE immediately to “community allies.” According to a rapid response resource guide circulated by 50501 Minnesota, callers can dial the Immigrant Defense Network hotline and relay identifying details about spotted ICE officers, including vehicle information, uniform description, and exact address of the sighting.
SALUTE is a common acronym guiding callers to document the size and strength of federal forces, enforcement actions, location, uniform, time, and equipment.
“As you report, let the community know to show up,” the handbook says, by messaging the MN8 Community Chat on Signal. Doing so will activate activists on standby, dispatching so-called safety patrols in droves to overwhelm officers and “deter ICE from detainment.”
Such encrypted Signal chats have become a vital tool commonly used by anti-ICE networks to send out alerts and coordinate the movement of ICE monitoring operatives, known collectively as “ICE Watch.” Organized groups operate various databases of ICE “abductors” to track officers in real time and mobilize counterefforts ad hoc. --->READ MORE HERE
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| Credit: Dymanh Chhoun | Sahan Journal |
When federal immigration agents descended on Minnesota last week to target Somali residents, Valerie Aguirre knew it would ripple across immigrant families of all types, scaring people away from living their day-to-day lives.
Aguirre, manager of her family’s Mexican meat market and grocery store, Valerie’s Carniceria, knew she had to take action. If people were afraid to come to them, they would go to the people. The south Minneapolis market began offering free delivery, making about 100 deliveries since last Wednesday.
“I just thought of other families – I was thinking of them,” Aguirre told the Sahan Journal.
Valerie’s Carniceria is one of several Latino businesses stepping up to support immigrant families by offering free delivery across the metro area for groceries purchased from their stores. They also urge Minnesotans who aren’t affected by immigration enforcement to shop at their businesses to support their employees and the community.
“It’s a necessity because they’re scared,” Aguirre said, referring to families in need of free deliveries. “They can’t go out to buy what they need, like food or bath stuff.”
The phone rang constantly when Valerie’s Carniceria began offering free delivery.
“We want to help as many people as possible,” Aguirre said.
Aguirre’s store is serving families in Richfield, Bloomington, St. Louis Park and Brooklyn Park, among other cities. The delivery service does not require a minimum purchase. The influx of delivery requests has helped business, but Aguirre said they’re not sure how long they can offer the free service.
Aguirre said she’s thankful for the orders and families they can help, but it also comes with challenges. “We have been stressed,” she said.
She plans to continue helping out families for as long as she can, but said the free delivery may not last forever due to the extra cost and limited staff. --->READ MORE HERE
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