THE DAY AFTER BORDER CZAR (anyone dislike that title as much as me?) Tom Homan announced a draw-down of federal immigration agents in Minnesota, I’m feeling, as Governor Tim Walz said, “cautiously optimistic.” Recent history has proven that we can’t necessarily believe or trust what federal government officials tell us. But I’m trying to be hopeful.
For more than two months, 3,000 immigration enforcement agents have been working in Minnesota. And if anyone still believes that they are/were doing only targeted enforcement, arresting “the worst of the worst,” then I have some lakefront property to sell you.
Let’s go back to Thursday morning, when Homan made his draw-down announcement complete with praise for his agents and the success of their mission in Minnesota. I couldn’t listen any more. I’d heard enough.
I had an appointment in neighboring Northfield anyway so off I went to this college town that, like Faribault, has been recently inundated by ICE. Except in Northfield, a decidedly blue city, the business community is publicly vocal about its opposition to ICE’s presence unlike in my decidedly red city.
In the heart of downtown Northfield, on one side of a block along Division Street, nearly every business has posted an anti-ICE sign and/or uplifting signage. I felt the strength of those shopkeepers willing to stand up for and encourage others. There’s power in raising united voices in opposition to wrong.
Inside Content Bookstore, where I stopped to shop for a baby shower gift, I discovered even more messaging and ways in which the Northfield community is stepping up to help their immigrant neighbors, including children affected by ICE’s actions. Monies from the sale of Minnesota state flag and “Rebel Loon” (our state bird) stickers will go toward books and activities for those kids. Content is also collaborating on a poetry chapbook, Words to Meet the Moment: Poetry Against Fascism, releasing soon.
As ICE supposedly ends Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota (which also encompassed cities and small towns outside the metro like my city of 25,000), we are left with a mess. Let me define that. The personal toll is huge. Trauma has been inflicted upon thousands. “Generational trauma,” Governor Walz said.
I worry about the kids who witnessed family members being taken or who saw armed, masked immigration officers with guns outside their schools (with classmates taken by ICE), outside their daycares, outside or inside their homes, at their bus stops, on the streets. It’s hard enough for adults to see such threatening power, aggression and use of excessive force. But our children? The mental health of all Minnesotans concerns me, especially that of the youngest among us.
And then there is the financial fall-out with people now unable to pay their bills, including rent, facing eviction because they haven’t gone to work out of fear of ICE. Again, legal status matters not as anyone with brown or black skin has been targeted. These same individuals and families have relied on community members and nonprofits to help with rent payments and to bring them groceries. This is not long-term sustainable.
Until we are all confident that ICE is really, truly gone and is doing only targeted enforcement of “the worst of the worst,” we will all remain on edge. Rebuilding trust, restoring life to normalcy will assuredly take time.
Likewise, the Minnesota economy has suffered severe damage, especially small businesses. Governor Walz has proposed a $10 million forgivable loan recovery plan to help the business community and is also hoping for help from the federal government. Good luck with that.
While in Northfield on Thursday, I learned that ICE agents recently went along Division Street, asking for employment records at some businesses. I don’t know details. But in my mind, I envision these armed, masked officers as a threatening presence in the heart of this picturesque, riverside American city. This community doesn’t back down from threats. In September 1876, townsfolk stopped the James-Younger Gang from robbing the First National Bank. Northfield is a community which cares for one another and which, in the midst of a federal invasion, has stood, is still standing, Minnesota Strong.
© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
The very best things communities can do is ban together and protect each other. It looks like Northfield is doing just that. “Never doubt a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens”…
Northfield always does a great job of supporting one another.
you are right to be cautious and if possible to still resist in any way possible as far as giving out information and keeping families safe and secure. there is no reason to trust them, they have proven that time and again.
I hope that there will be a way to set up a rent moratorium and financial support as a grant and not a loan, for food, supplies, home repairs, and businesses to get people back on their feet and support medical/mental health care as needed. is there a way for people in other states to send support to small businesses in the towns/cities? we can order from them online and not ask for any goods to be sent or however it could be best worked out. or send money to food banks or schools, daycares, migrant/refugee services…I hope that pro bono lawyers will come to help in any way they can.
I know I’m an idealist, but everyone should pitch in to help however they can to set things right again, it will not be a quick or easy task and things will never be exactly the same, but Minnesota showed us all how to stand up and be strong and you deserve help from all of us as you regain your footing.
Thank you, Beth, for your heartfelt care for Minnesota as we begin to recover from the damage done by this federal invasion. I will try in the next few days to get a post written about helping in my community specifically. The city of Minneapolis has laid out plans to help with all facets of recovery. Oftentimes smaller cities like mine have fewer options, less financial resources. A local nonprofit has approached the city council for $50,000 in emergency rental assistance, but already there’s been pushback against that. Hopefully compassion will prevail. But this is a “red” city. I wish politics could be set aside and our leaders could simply see the human side of this situation. More later…
those signs are awesome. Thank you for another of your excellent farm tours! Do you think that the ICE activity/horror has calmed down? Are there less of them around your place?
I haven’t talked to anyone today about ICE activity in my community. But I will be out protesting tomorrow morning so perhaps I will learn more then. For now we are all assuming it’s enforcement as usual with 2,300 immigration agents remaining in Minnesota.
Ah. So they never really took them away. Just said they would to appease the narrative. Do your people think the violence has mitigated at all?
Supposedly the draw-down will be completed by the end of next week, according to Homan, with some 150 immigration agents then remaining at the Minnesota field office. Supposedly, 700 agents left during the first draw-down. But who knows? How is any of that confirmed? How will we know if the other 2,300 have actually, truly left? Many untruths have been spoken by the federal government.
As far as less use of excessive force by ICE, I can’t answer that question. But what I can state is that I very much dislike the blame the federal government is placing on Minnesotans for what has happened here with ICE. The federal government is to blame.
Thank you for your questions and for caring about us in Minnesota.
I am shocked to the core by the suffering that has been inflicted onto your people.
I fear “they” will take this to another city, another state. Trump said before the surge began that this would be “a day of reckoning and retribution” for Minnesota. We did our best to stand Minnesota Strong. And, yes, the damage wrought by this federal enforcement operation has been nothing short of horrible. I never imagined that the federal government would do this to its own people.
Wonderful that you are protesting on Valentine’s Day, as St. Valentine was executed by the Romans at a time of political instability in their empire. The Christians were persecuted, just as US immigrants are now, and it’s tragic that there are martyrs once again. It’s good to see people taking a stand, and you can imagine that a very angry old Englishwoman is marching with you today. Love from the UK.
Judith, thank you for protesting today in the UK. That means a lot to me, to us in Minnesota.
It’s true…we are the town that defeated the Jesse James gang. I like that comparison!
It will be a good day when ICE leaves. The repercussions will be long term.
I needed to include the defeat of Jesse James in this story. And, yes, it will be good when ICE leaves. And, yes, the damage done has been horrendous with a long recovery ahead.