SATURDAY AFTERNOON, as a raw northwest wind swept down Minnesota State Highway 60, I stood side-by-side with others at a busy intersection in the heart of downtown Faribault. I stood in solidarity over concerns about ICE enforcement locally, across the state and country. I stood in solidarity over concerns about the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7. I stood in solidarity over concerns for our democracy. And I stood in love and support of my neighbors.
Neighbors like Bashir, a long-time Faribault resident whom I met shortly after arriving at the gathering to the sound of bagpipes. My interaction with him nearly broke me emotionally after Bashir reached inside his jacket and pulled out his passport. “I carry this with me everywhere now,” he said. It’s one thing to hear and read about this in media reports. It’s quite another to meet a U.S. citizen “forced” to carry his passport by a president who has publicly stated he wants Somalis out of the country.
My humanity, my compassion, my heart and soul and spirit call upon me to support individuals like my new friend, Bashir, in this moment. My humanity also calls upon me to support the Latino and Hispanic communities who comprised the majority of the 25 or so of us gathered during the quickly-organized protest on Saturday.
Organizer Sonia mingled among us, protesting, passing out hot chocolate and later distributing educational information about Constitutional rights, alerting others to ICE’s presence and more.
ICE IN FARIBAULT
In conversations, I learned that ICE has been especially active in Faribault recently. I’d heard this previously from multiple sources. Protester Travis, who works in the school system, confirmed this, noting that student attendance is down. He watched for ICE vehicles during the rally and had every right to be worried given ICE activity along Lyndale Avenue in Faribault earlier Saturday. That resulted in multiple 911 calls, including one from a caller claiming they were “about to get shot,” according to a media release from Faribault Police Chief John Sherwin. Officers responded to ensure public safety. ICE was there. But no shooting occurred.
We are a state and community on edge following the killing of Renee Good. We are a state and community under incredible stress as the federal government relentlessly targets Minnesota and the people who call this state home. It is unfathomable to think that those of skin tones other than white must fear they will be taken by masked agents. It was not lost on me that I am (at least for now) exempt because I am white.
Another new friend, a young Hispanic woman named Christina, shared how ICE agents are patrolling the Cannon River Mobile Home Park, home to many Hispanics and Latinos. Residents are afraid to leave their homes for fear of being taken by ICE. Doesn’t matter if you are here legally or not.
OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE SUPPORT
As I stood with Bashir, Sonia, Travis, Christina, Hannah, a high school senior and a mix of multi-aged Latinos, Hispanics and white people like me, I felt empowered. Our numbers may have been small. But for a last-minute protest and the first in Faribault, turn-out was encouraging.
Even more encouraging was the overwhelmingly positive response we got from passing motorists in honks, friendly waves, thumbs up and more to counter the few middle fingers, thumbs down and venomous words spewed by one especially angry young female driver. How anyone can hold such hate toward immigrants is beyond my understanding.
I felt only love in the presence of my new friends. Many thanked me for coming. I hugged several, offered words of encouragement. Words matter. And so do actions. A Somali couple arrived to distribute hot tea. I’d been protesting for 1 ½ hours and felt chilled to the bone by the estimated zero-degree windchill. That offering of Somali tea warmed my body and my heart. As I reached for a cup of the hot beverage, I was overcome by emotion. The message I carried—“I LOVE my immigrant neighbors”—reflected back on me as I, too, felt loved in that moment.
#
NOTE: I moderate all comments on this, my personal blog. I will not publish comments which express hatred or are otherwise offensive, include intentional false information and/or do not meet the standards of decency I expect here.
© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I started following your blog when I lived in Texas because it was a great connection to home. My family is all from Vesta Minnesota which is smack in between Redwood Falls and Marshall.
I have really been happy to see your writings about what is going on lately. I am really glad that you are standing up and speaking out!
Thank you!
Jeremy Jaros eldriftemusic.com
Jeremy, thank you for appreciating my blog. My hometown is Vesta, which maybe you know or maybe you don’t. With my parents gone, I seldom get back there anymore. But Vesta remains important to me because my childhood on the prairie shaped me as a creative.
As far as standing up and speaking out, I think every single one of us needs to do that right now in whatever ways we can.
How nice to get hot chocolate and hot tea on a cold day while standing up for what you believe. Thanks for loving your neighbors.
Both were incredibly loving gestures toward those of us braving the cold to stand in protest. Thank you for doing the same in Northfield. Our individual and collective voices matter.
Thank you for your efforts to support your neighbors. Praying it will have a positive effect.
I was happy to be there for my neighbors. They appreciated the support. And the positive response from the community certainly had to uplift them also. It certainly did me.
this is so nice that all of you did this action together, and what your neighbor/new friend bashir told you about carrying his passport would have made me tear up too. the community solitary was good for all of you and while it was certain to have been even more challenging in the cold, the hope and warmth you brought to your neighbors is immeasurable. even to those who were not able to stand for themselves. you sent a strong message.
I hope we sent a strong message. I was grateful for the community support shown by most motorists. To see their smiles and waves and thumbs up meant more than words, although some also rolled down windows to express their support and gratitude for our presence. I’m grateful to Sonia for organizing this protest. I admire the courage of my neighbors to put themselves out there. They, the ones targeted by ICE, are truly the brave and strong ones here.
but you stood with them, which was powerful for them
You are right on that. Thank you for your support and for standing up in Michigan.
I am not surprised to see this post about your participation. It’s where your heart is and you had to be there! Great job being a positive amongst the negative. Praying for Minnesota.
Thank you, my friend.
Thank you so much for standing up in support of our neighbors.
You are welcome. It is the right thing to do. Every voice, every person standing with a protest sign, makes a difference.
I would be interested in participating in the next protest. Do you know if any more are planned?
None scheduled yet, but talk of. If you’re OK with me emailing you (using your email on this comment), I will should I learn of any.
Yes, please do!
I will. Thanks for caring.
This post, like so many others lately, leaves me in tears. I worry about my grandchildren. The Native programs in the Cities have warned Native people to carry their ID and to be sure to get an ID if they don’t have one.
The fear and rage are overwhelming. I can’t believe people think any of this is ok. We can’t have violent criminals running the streets, but in this day and age you’d think there would be a better way to identify violent criminals than by their skin color or ethnicity.
I’m disgusted by the aggressive wrong-headedness of our Government. I don’t understand why the political parties haven’t done anything to create better immigration programs.
And here we are distracted by our local injustice while Chinese, Russian, and Iranian warships are gathering off the coast South Africa. The world is doused in fear and being set on fire, and the current president claims to be a peacemaker who stops wars….
Well stated, my friend. Your concern for your grandchildren is legitimate. I only heard recently that Native Americans are being targeted so I am glad you bring that to light in your comment.
I appreciate your voice, your words, your strength.