Fear, anguish and outrage: these are the emotions that many students are feeling in response to the recent presence of Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the Twin Cities. In the past year, scrutiny of immigrants has intensified with President Donald Trump’s deployment of ICE and the National Guard to major cities across the country, including Los Angeles, New York City and Chicago.
Recent show-of-force operations in the Twin Cities, such as at the restaurant Hola Arepa, have sparked protests across the cities. Some protesters have been met with chemical irritants and even rubber bullets, including at a protest on Nov. 25 at the intersection of Payne and Geranium Avenues in St. Paul.
Sophomore Oakley Schonwald believes that the measures ICE has taken are causing fear and uncertainty.
“I absolutely hate the concept of ICE in general. I think the border issue has been disputed for a while, but no matter your opinions, I find it impossible to believe that the solution is forcing people out of their homes,” Schonwald said. “This constant interrogation and fear that people are being made to live with, I think it’s awful that we’ve come to this.”
Because Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the country, Trump chose to attack Minneapolis. In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump made multiple comments bashing Somali immigrants, as well as criticizing Gov. Tim Walz. “Somalian gangs are roving the streets looking for ‘prey’ as our wonderful people stay locked in their apartments and houses,” he said.
Although the federal government has power over local and state governments regarding immigration, local and state administrations have no obligation to actively participate in raids and other displays of force by FBI or ICE agents. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey made this clear in a press briefing on Dec. 2. “Our police officers are not ICE agents. They will not cooperate with ICE agents,” he said.
History teacher Aaron Shulow commented on the relationship between the federal and local levels of law enforcement.
“It’s very complicated when it’s the federal government breaking the law, because they’re the supreme law of the land, and they have the resources, but at the very minimum, local leaders … certainly do not have to assist in breaking the law,” he said.
After Trump’s statements about the Somali community, ICE initiated “Operation Metro Surge” in Minneapolis. An article published Dec. 4 by the Department of Homeland Security, titled “ICE Arrests Worst of the Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens During Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, Including Pedophiles, Domestic Abusers and Gang Members,” highlighted people of Somali descent arrested in the operation. It also included a quote from Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, blaming Walz and Frey for allowing these alleged criminals to “roam the streets” of Minnesota.
Junior Gus Hembre expressed his perspective on the recent ICE raids around the country. “It feels kind of dystopian … It’s almost hard to believe that it even is a thing,” he said.
The recent ICE raids and increased racial scrutiny carried out by the federal government affect more than those directly involved. Students, teachers, families and communities are struggling to cope with the current conditions in the country.
