Federal Agents Use Chemical Irritants on St. Paul Protestors

Transcript

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HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.

ANCHOR: Community members and advocates react to federal officers using chemical agents on protestors in St. Paul. Then, UCare announces it will be closing its doors for good. And, an important health warning for parents using infant formula.

I'm Chantel SinGs.

Federal officials made several immigration arrests in St. Paul last week, sparking community protests. The federal officers used chemical agents like tear gas against the protestors, prompting community leaders to organize a vigil and call for accountability. Katharine DeCelle has the story.

Ryan Perez: It's ICE, it's police, it's FBI, and it's intentionally very confusing. All of these agencies are deputized to do the work of ICE.

Katharine DeCelle: That's Ryan Perez. He's speaking at a press conference about reports he received from the community about a raid happening in St Paul last week. The raid was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, also known as ICE.

Ryan Perez: Just before 9am, we began receiving reports of federal agencies preparing an operation out of Newell Park.

Katharine DeCelle: Ryan is an organizing director with COPAL, Communities Organizing Latina Power and Action, a Minnesota-based organization that advocates for justice for Latine communities.

Ryan Perez: We follow our protocol, which is to deploy constitutional observers who peacefully and legally document law enforcement for the protection of civil rights.

Katharine DeCelle: The observers, according to COPAL's Handbook for Constitutional Observers, are a group of volunteer trained practitioners of civil initiative. They followed federal law enforcement to Bro-Tex, a St Paul manufacturing facility where federal forces from multiple agencies conducted an operation.

Ryan Perez: A St Paul dad and his brother, who would move heaven and earth to put dinner on the table for their families, were forcefully zip tied and removed from this premises.

Katharine DeCelle: Protesters at the site were met with violence, tear gas and pepper spray from federal agents.

Ryan Perez: Folks that were there, peacefully documenting, were forcefully assaulted and shoved by officers.

Katharine DeCelle : Julio Murphy Zelaya is with the Immigrant Defense Network, a group of over 100 organizations dedicated to defending and protecting immigrants.

Julio Murphy Zelaya: This is an attack on St Paul, on Minnesota. It goes against Minnesota values. It feels like federal overreach on our state. It's important for us to push back, to be saying, "No, that's not what we want here."

Katharine DeCelle: The Immigrant Defense Network offers multiple resources on their website, including what to do if you see ICE agents, what employers can do if ICE comes to their workplace, and what rights immigrants have.

Julio Murphy Zelaya: We want people to know their rights, the right to remain silent, the right to deny search, right? These are all embedded in the Constitution and extend to immigrants.

Katharine DeCelle: In response, an ICE spokesperson gave this comment about Homeland Security and Immigration, also known as HSI ICE. "HSI and law enforcement partners conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity and served a search warrant in furtherance of a federal criminal investigation. There is no threat to public safety, and the investigation remains ongoing at this time." For North Star Stories, I'm Katharine DeCelle.

Anchor: You are listening to North Star Stories.

UCare, the nonprofit health plan that has served Minnesotans for 40 years, will shut down next year. The organization has signed an agreement with Medica, another Minnesota-based nonprofit, to acquire key assets and continue providing coverage to roughly 300,000 UCare members. Both health plans say people enrolled in UCare's 2026 Medicaid and Individual and Family plans will see no interruption in services. The deal still needs regulatory approval, and it's still unclear what will happen to UCare's employees. The transaction is expected to be finalized in early 2026.

Health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of infant botulism tied to ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula. Infant botulism is a rare but serious illness that can cause paralysis. Infants across ten states have suspected or confirmed cases, including here in Minnesota. If a parent using formula notices their child isn't eating well, has a weak cry, difficulty swallowing, or a loss of head control, they should contact a health care provider immediately. More information at the Minnesota Department of Health's website.

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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.