Intimidation, not Ilegal Immigration

I’m back in MN for a few days and went to my Dentist office for a routine check up. I have gotten to know the two front office workers, partly because I say really dumb stuff. For example, today one of them asked me if I wanted to pay in advance or when I leave. I said if I pay in advance and die having my teeth cleaned will I get a full refund. They assured me I would.

We also talked about tough stuff like the turmoil in the Twin Cities. They are both US citizens, but neither are white. So they are afraid. Afraid they will be stopped. Afraid they will be arrested. Afraid they will be shot. They go to work, go home and go to church.

I also visited with a business friend who also is a US citizen as is his wife and his children. But he is also afraid for his wife, his children, all of his friends in the community. Because he, his family and their friends do not look like me. They are better looking than me, but don’t look like me.

There are many people in the Twin Cities who are afraid and almost all of them are US citizens. In fact, if ICE was actually looking for illegal immigrants they would be either in Texas or Florida. The reason is the states with the most illegal immigrants are California, Texas and Florida with Texas slightly behind California. It is estimated that combined Texas and Florida have almost 3 million illegal immigrants compared to slightly over 100,000 in Minnesota. So why the focus on Minnesota?

First of all, Texas and Florida complied with ICE while California fought back against ICE in a number of different ways. As have other states. Minnesota is now the battleground.

I would suggest this has never been about illegal immigration. It is solely about intimidating communities. Like California and other states, Minnesota rejected ICE’s illegally detaining and arresting individuals without their guaranteed by law due process. Review the following:

• ICE has repeatedly violated 4th and 5th amendments rights.

• They shot and murdered in my estimation, a white woman, Renee Good, in Minneapolis. Her final regardless were “that’s fine dude, I’m not mad at you”. After shooting, the ICE agent said “F… you bitch”

• A woman who was recording a car stopped by ICE when another ICE agent approached her car and before knocking the phone out of her hand said “have you not learned”. This seems to be a reference the shooting of Renee Good and the lesson protesters should have learned from it.

• Minneapolis City Council President, Elliot Payne was assaulted by an ICE agent while legally observing an ICE operation.

• Both schools and churches in the Twin Cites have reported lower attendance because of fear of ICE raids. Some have even closed. Reportedly ICE raids have raided schools.

• ICE has had a negative economic impact on business in the Twin Cities with some business reporting a loss of revenue from 50% to 100%.

I have watched numerous reels of ICE agents conducting raids on the streets, in places of work and schools. One of the most troubling was a 17-year old who was abducted in Target and dragged into an ICE vehicle yelling he was US citizen. He was released a few minutes crying and scared. He was helped by Good Samaritan’s.

The very few actual felons found in these raids could have found without terrorizing communities. A review of ICE statistics found that over 70% of people arrested by ICE had no criminal records. Only 5% were actual convicted felons. [Being in the US illegally is primarily a civil offense can be a criminal offense and be either a misdemeanor or felony.] I would be very surprised if over 5% of those arrested in the Twin Cities are convicted felons. On the flip side, one analysis estimated that in 2022 about 72,000 illegal immigrants worked in Minnesota and paid over $200 Million in local and state taxes.

So if the goal is not arresting dangerous illegal immigrants, what is the goal? The answer is in what they have actually done. Scared children and kept them from school, terrorized communities, violated 4th amendment rights, assaulted and even killed US citizens, reduced the tax base and negatively affected the economics of the Twin Cities.

And that’s the goal of Trump and his minions. They want to scare and intimidate citizens who do not support their goals of turning the US into a totalitarian country. The message to citizens who have not supported the Trump regime is either comply or we will terrorize you and your children and ignore your rights in so doing. They believe if they can subdue the Twin Cities, the next city will be easier. But they are wrong. Whatever happens in Minneapolis, and I think Minnesotans will prevail, the next city attacked by ICE agents will fight back twice as hard because they will be better prepared.

One last history lesson for Trump and his little minions who bravely attack US citizens from the safety of their offices. If you think Minnesotans will cave into their attack on our rights, I would suggest you check out the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Battle of Gettysburg. For Minnesotans on July 2, 1863 the Union III Corps collapsed leaving a hole in the center of the line on Cometary Ridge. The First Minnesota which consisted of 262 men were ordered to plug the gap and to do so they charged over 1,200 Confederate soldiers. Within a few minutes over 80% of the regiment were injured or killed, but their sacrifice bought enough time for Union reinforcements to arrive and plug the gap.

Minnesotans today just like the Regiment then knowing the risks are still brave and fearless when outsiders attack them, their neighbors and their community. Trump and his minions are on the wrong side of history.