NSS Weekly: Impact of Statewide ICE Presence on Tribal Citizens and Small Businesses

Transcript

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HOST: You are listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota. North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota.

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ANCHOR: This is North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live. I'm Gracie J.

This week, we continue our coverage of the intensified federal immigration operations in Minnesota and the growing public response. In recent days, a right-wing group rallied in downtown Minneapolis and was met by counter protesters, while daily confrontations continue between ICE agents and demonstrators at the Whipple Federal Building in the Twin Cities, where the agency has its local headquarters. Only about a dozen people showed up for what was promoted to be a massive anti-Islamic protest in downtown Minneapolis. Fearing a violent clash, those opposing the racist rally discouraged counter-protests. A few hundred counter-protestors chased the main organizer out of the city, who claimed to have been stabbed but appeared to have scrapes and cuts.

Protesters also disrupted a church service, prompting a federal investigation. And students around the state have walked out of classes in solidarity with those affected by immigration enforcement. In response, Minnesota officials have put the National Guard on standby, and the president has placed a United States Army unit on standby, threatening to send US military troops to our state. These are just some of the events from last week.

We begin this week's program with reactions from tribal members who say federal agents are not recognizing tribal identification cards. And, we'll take a look at how the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities is impacting local businesses and communities. But first, here's a deeper look at some of the news-making headlines around the state this past week.

The U.S. Department of Justice is accusing Governor Walz, the Mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul Attorney General Ellison and two counties of violating federal law by impeding federal law enforcement officials. The Department of Justice issued grand jury subpoenas seeking written records and communications from those city and state officials. In a statement, Governor Walz denied any wrongdoing and called the reported investigation a political attack, saying the justice system is being weaponized against opponents. The Minneapolis mayor responded on the social media platform X that he will not be intimidated, and his focus remains on keeping the city safe. The federal law cited has rarely been used and has roots going back to the Civil War era.

In related news, Becca Good, the widow of Renee Good, who was shot and killed by an ICE officer earlier this month in Minneapolis, is now the subject of a federal investigation. News reports say rather than focusing on Officer Jonathan Ross, who fired the fatal shot, federal authorities are now examining whether Becca Good broke the law by impeding federal officers.

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An attorney for Becca Good released a statement on January 17th saying that, as of that time, no federal agency had contacted his client to indicate they were investigating her. Six federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned, reportedly under pressure from the Justice Department to pursue criminal charges against Renee Good's family. The Justice Department responded, saying it fired the prosecutors who said they resigned. North Start Stories is unable to confirm which happened first.

The U.S. Department of Justice says it's investigating a group of protesters who disrupted Sunday services at a St. Paul church. Protesters claim one of the pastors, David Easterwood, also leads the local ICE field office. Church listings and court records appear to match that identity. US Attorney General Pam Bondi said on the social media platform X that any federal violations would be prosecuted. The U.S. assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division also pointed out on X that creating an unsafe atmosphere or intimidating people at a religious site is against federal law.

Campuses across the state are updating their safety policies due to concerns of federal activity. The University of Minnesota updated guidance for students, faculty, and staff as federal operations continue, adding that it will offer virtual learning options for some students. St. Cloud State officials remind students and staff that immigration agents face the same access rules as other law enforcement and urge anyone approached for information about others to direct officers to the president's office. High school students across the Twin Cities organized walkouts to support classmates affected by recent immigration operations. During a press conference, a high school student expressed pride in his fellow students.

[Audio from the press conference: "When I showed up at school, all classrooms felt so empty, and, uhm, there wasn't the same life that there had been in school because so many Somalian and Latino families weren't there, my friends and classmates. Then later in the day, uhm, when we were going for the walkout, I felt so grateful because of the amount of people that showed up. I'm so grateful to my community members that supported me and all the kids that showed up, uh, to protest against all the things that ICE had been doing."]

A number of K-12 school districts around the metro are offering remote learning during the immigration crackdown. Some schools in Greater Minnesota are talking about offering that possibility, but none have done so as of our recording of this newscast.

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ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories.

In today's main story, after recent ICE arrests of Native Americans in the Twin Cities, tribal governments and community groups are mobilizing around one concrete step they can take right now: issuing tribal ID cards and trying to ensure ICE agents know about, recognize, and honor them. Reporter Xan Holston has more.

Crow Bellecourt: I'm 53 years old, and growing up in the Twin Cities, and I never thought I'd have to carry my Bad River Chippewa Tribal ID around my neck on a lanyard.

Xan Holston: Crow Bellecourt grew up in the Little Earth community, a Native housing complex in South Minneapolis. He's president of the Indigenous Protector Movement, IPM, and the son of American Indian Movement co-founder Clyde Bellecourt. Over the past several weeks, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, has arrested Native Americans in Minneapolis and nearby suburbs. Tribal leaders and advocates say agents are stopping people without warrants, and without knowing who they're actually looking for.

Crow Bellecourt: But a problem we're running into that I heard is that ICE agents are looking at these Tribal IDs and thinking that they're fake, that they're not real.

Xan Holston: That concern has pushed Tribal governments and urban Indian organizations to act quickly to focus on one concrete thing they can provide right now--Tribal identification cards. Tribal IDs are tribally issued, federally recognized identification, a valid form of government ID accepted at federal buildings, airports and banks. At the Minneapolis American Indian Center, Tribal staff from across the region are issuing free Tribal IDs to enrolled members, many of whom live far from their home reservations.

Crow Bellecourt: Not just our Minnesota Tribes, but also from South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin. Because we have such a vibrant Native community here in the Twin Cities.

Xan Holston: One of those Tribes is North Central Minnesota's Red Lake Nation.

Sam Strong: And we have over eight thousand Tribal members that live in the Twin Cities, and we're going to protect each one of them, and their descendants.

Xan Holston: Sam Strong is Red Lake's Tribal Secretary.

Sam Strong: There's a lot of people who are worried about the recent actions and activities. So we're bringing our staff down here, we're going to give out free IDs and whatever we can do to protect our people. We're here for them.

Xan Holston: Strong says the urgency became impossible to ignore after ICE arrested a Red Lake descendant, a U.S. citizen whose mother is an enrolled member of the Tribe. Red Lake leadership helped provide documentation proving his citizenship and securing his release. Just days later, reports emerged that ICE had detained four unhoused men believed to be members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, who were living beneath a bridge near the Little Earth community. One man has since been released. But at a news conference last week, Oglala Sioux leaders said they have not been able to confirm whether their enrolled citizens were taken into custody, and are still seeking clear answers from ICE. The uncertainty about who has been detained, where they're being held, and why, has only intensified frustration across Native communities.

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Along Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis, everyday community spaces have also become places of protection and coordination. At Pow Wow Grounds, a Native-run coffee shop, the All My Relations art gallery has been repurposed into a hub where people observe ICE activity, share information, and take care of one another. Volunteers coordinate observers who document ICE encounters. Others focus on mutual aid, making sure people have food, warm clothing, and support if they're afraid to leave their homes.

Crow Bellecourt: Medical supplies to hats, mittens, gloves. Handwarmers. Household stuff for people who are afraid to get to the store in these times. And we also have soup and coffee for people who are out on the streets protesting ICE.

Xan Holston: Bellecourt says what he's seeing now feels familiar and deeply racialized.

Crow Bellecourt: It's just crazy that they don't have warrants. They don't know who they're looking for, they just see brown faces and pull you over and mess with you. Give me your ID.

Xan Holston: Earlier this month, that played out just across the street from Pow Wow Grounds. Rachel Dionne-Thunder, vice president of the Indigenous Protector Movement, was driving through the area when ICE agents stopped her.

Rachel Dionne-Thunder: ICE attempted to detain me just here across the street, directly across the street from Pow Wow Grounds.

Xan Holston: Dionne-Thunder says agents surrounded her car and demanded that she roll down her windows and show identification. She refused.

Rachel Dionne-Thunder: They were ready to break my window.

Xan Holston: As the situation escalated, observers and community members rushed in, filming, blowing whistles, and surrounding her vehicle.

Rachel Dionne-Thunder: And what I experienced in that moment was protection and power from our people.

Xan Holston: The agents eventually left. But Dionne-Thunder says those encounters make clear who is being targeted.

Rachel Dionne-Thunder: Carrying identification does not guarantee safety. People are being taken and detained regardless.

Xan Holston: She says the response now is collective care.

Rachel Dionne-Thunder: If you can, and if you want, please stay home. Continue to move in prayer, stay grounded, and continue to look out for one another.

Xan Holston: Tribal members in Minneapolis are encouraged to contact Tribal leadership for more information about getting IDS, or to contact the Minneapolis American Indian Center. For North Star Stories, I'm Xan Holston.

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ANCHOR: The state has 11 sovereign nations, so this impacts many Minnesotans. I'm joined by Louise Matson from White Earth Band of Ojibwe and Executive Director of the Division of Indian Work. Welcome to North Star Stories, Louise.

Louise Matson: Thank you. I'm happy to be here.

ANCHOR: So from what you're seeing, how have these recent ICE actions changed day to day life for tribal members and native families.

Louise Matson: Well, it's had a huge impact at the Division of Indian Work. We are trying to proceed with business as usual. So, for example, we have a food shelf, but we do have people that are afraid to come up to the food shelf. Again, we know we're being racially profiled, and we've seen violent abductions for people. So there's a very real fear. We are suspending our evening activities because we do pickups for youth. My fear is, not only could they be followed and stopped because we know that's happened, but they could also drive into a situation that's bad. And so evening groups are temporarily suspended. We're taking it week by week. So that's a loss of academic and cultural support and caring adult support for our young people, and that's across the board for a lot of our agencies. We've had to alter our plans. And I will remind folks that, yes, we have 11 nations in Minnesota, but in Minneapolis, I've heard that there's 150 different tribal nations represented. We're very diverse, you know, so we're multi-tribal and we're multi-racial. So not everybody can get a tribal ID card. A lot of nations are doing the descendants card, but some are not, and some, like their tribal nation doesn't have a representative here. But I will say I'm really impressed with a lot of tribes are sending people down. I've never seen it before for tribes. I've never heard coming down here doing tribal IDs for free.

ANCHOR: So then, what other protections or policies would you like to see to make sure tribal members can safely access food, clinics and other basic services?

Louise Matson: Yeah, they just have to hopefully be connected with someone like Division of Indian Work, or we have a legal aid department here. We're all very well connected with who can help people legally if they're detained. And then all these protectors that are out there patrolling, like Indigenous Protectors Movement and volunteers who are keeping an eye on things. So word rapidly spreads, and this network of people helping to keep people safe. But you know, we are understanding that people are staying home because they're afraid. I said we're open for our food shelf, but our doors are locked. So I feel like we're a sanctuary. So we actually have a volunteer watching our door. Our Native community loves to be in community with one another, so we are letting people in and watching the door and watching to see if federal agents come, so that we can react.

ANCHOR: So then looking ahead, if this level of enforcement continues, what long term impacts do you worry about for security and economic stability in tribal communities, both in the Twin Cities and in greater Minnesota?

Louise Matson: Well, I worry about food insecurity. We worked really hard to try to make sure that that we lessen that in our community. But you know, are we reaching everybody we, you know, and also the people that are delivering the food, are they safe? You know, they're out there in the community. Also, people are not receiving the services that they need for support. So that academic support, that homework help, we do a lot of cultural activities. They're missing that, and they're missing that across the board, on a lot of agencies. All the youth who have already been really impacted by COVID. We're still recovering from that. But we all know how that impacted children and like their academic skills, particularly reading. So all those supports that help for that are not happening, and the longer they go, the more that hurts our youth. And then just, I think the trauma that this is putting on community, and I'm including the community members that work at all these different agencies that are trying to balance serving our people and our community with "I'm really struggling because I'm worried" or "Some of my own family have been targeted". It's exhausting.

ANCHOR: Well, thank you so much for joining us. Louise, unfortunately, that's all the time we have, but still, we appreciate talking with you.

Louise Matson: Thank you.

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ANCHOR: After the break, how business owners and communities are feeling the impact of immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities. This is North Star Stories, Voices from Where We Live, produced by AMPERS, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. We'll be right back.

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ANCHOR: You are listening to NSS, I'm Gracie J.

Communities across the state are reeling as immigration enforcement actions continue to escalate. Two hotels in downtown St. Paul closed at least temporarily, citing safety concerns for their guests. And on St. Paul's east side, small businesses from restaurants to day care centers are feeling the impact. As Ngoc Bui tells us, some are even struggling to stay afloat.

Ngoc Bui: St. Paul's east side is known as a lively and vibrant hotbed of immigrant communities and businesses. But these days, things are quiet.

Grocery Owner: It's a very difficult situation for the old businesses. No matter there's a Latino businesses or other businesses, we have many other businesses around. But you see, the streets are empty.

Ngoc Bui: For safety, this business owner did not want to be identified. But he says since December, when federal immigration enforcement intensified, he's seen revenue drop 50 to 60 percent. Several of his employees are also too afraid to come to work.

Grocery Owner: We are working only with three employees right now. It's like 60% the people don't come. And I talk to my neighbors, and they are the same because there's no sales, no people, no workers.

Ngoc Bui: Due to the situation, he's had to cut hours and keep the front doors locked at all times.

Grocery Owner: Weekly is over 15 hours less, and it's not good for the community, because the people needs to buy stuff all the time.

Ngoc Bui: It's a decision other businesses are making as well.

Paris Dunning: So it's not necessarily, not necessarily that they're running closed, but they are saying we have reduced all kinds of things because we have reduced customers coming in, and we're really worried about how we're going to meet our obligations to pay our bills.

Ngoc Bui: That's Paris Dunning, executive director of the East Side Area Business Association, or ESABA. Dunning says ESABA doesn't have an exact number of how many businesses are impacted but several have reached out for support in recent days. Some places on the east side like Taqueria Los Ocampos have had to close entirely for the foreseeable future. Leaving only a handwritten note on their door to let customers know. Some fear these closures could become permanent.

Paris Dunning: When they say, we're not sure we can last much longer, they are saying, this is COVID-level impact.

Ngoc Bui: Unlike during the pandemic, Dunning says businesses aren't expecting federal aid this time around.

Dunning: Because it's federal, the federal level, that is causing the disruption.

Ngoc Bui: Impacted businesses and community organizations in the area have been meeting to brainstorm solutions.

Paris Dunning: We need either philanthropic support or we need state-level support. We need city-oriented programming that would help businesses with whatever resources they have.

Ngoc Bui: Dunning says ESABA plans to reach out to state lawmakers to discuss possible legislative proposals with the session set to begin in February. Alma Flores, the executive director of the Latino Economic Development Center, or LEDC, is exploring pathways for support as well. LEDC is located on the east side but provides loans and support to small businesses across Minnesota.

Alma Flores: Finding some really rent relief is critical at this time, alongside payroll, and then making sure their debts are paid, so that there isn't this ripple effect that we expect to see.

Ngoc Bui: She's in conversations with other local organizations, private funders and new St. Paul mayor Kaohly Her about creating emergency aid. While these plans are still in the works, Flores estimates the economic impact of this situation would be significant if something isn't done soon.

Alma Flores: We are seeing about a $400,000 impact, potentially, if this continues for the next six months. And statewide, we looked at it from our portfolio standpoint, and it's over a million if we were to provide some relief just on their loans. This does not speak to their needing to pay their rent, make payroll. So obviously the need is greater than that.

Ngoc Bui: St. Paul Council Member HwaJeong Kim says there aren't many options in this current situation.

HwaJeong Kim: We have emergency assistance for renters, but we don't have a ton for businesses.

Ngoc Bui: Still, she says she's looking into whatever resources and opportunities are available.

HwaJeong Kim: You know, there are businesses that have access to business grants with us. We're taking a look at those. Some of our offices have, you know, small pots of money, usually for capital improvement, and it is written out in state legislature. But of course, the legislature starts in about a month.

Ngoc Bui: North Star Stories also reached out to Mayor Her to ask for more information about any plans her office might be working on but did not get a response. Council Member Kim noted, however, that the mayor has been hosting roundtables with businesses and community organizations. Meanwhile, in a statement via email, president and CEO of Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation said they've upped grantmaking and are contributing to the Immigrant Rapid Response Fund at the Women's Foundation. On the ground, one business owner says he's glad for the help coming from the community.

Grocery Owner: They're doing deliveries, food, they're supporting us. It's amazing.

Ngoc Bui: He's hoping changes will be coming soon. But until then, he'll continue to do his part.

Grocery Owner: We need to keep the hope. Keep working hard. We have to take care of our community and take care of each other.

Ngoc Bui: This is Ngoc Bui for North Star Stories.

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ANCHOR: Businesses and customers across the state are being impacted by the immigration crackdown. I'm now joined by King Banaian, Director of the Center for Policy Research and Community Engagement, and Professor of Economics at St Cloud State University. Welcome to North Star Stories. Thank you so much for being here, professor.

Dr. King Banaian: Thank you. I'm glad to be here.

ANCHOR: So we don't have data on the current situation, but from an economic standpoint, what kinds of long term ripple effects do you expect on jobs, commercial rents and vacancy rates?

Dr. King Banaian: Well, what we have here is an economic story about labor supply and about business continuity. We have lots of reports that show large scale enforcement is causing many businesses to close. Your stories in the Twin Cities match stories we've had here in the St Cloud area, where I have business owners, both members of immigrant communities and those not having trouble getting workers to come to work. And it happens in a variety of sectors, though, the front line of it's going to be in the restaurant sector, which is consistent with a number of the stories we're hearing. But it also happens in construction. It also happens in child are, which has ripple effects that we could talk about, and basically administrative services as well.

ANCHOR: Elaborate a little bit more. You mentioned it will have effects on childcare.

Dr. King Banaian: So suppose someone who's in childcare, you know, is a member of an immigrant community, and they decide they don't want to go to work because they think it's unsafe. They might get questioned in their place of work, so they stay home. There's a minimum number of childcare workers you have to have in order to watch the children. If you get below that number, you have to basically close the childcare facility. Now you have parents who will say, "I can't come to work because my child got sent home from childcare." So now it can be even somebody who's not a member of an immigrant community who's being affected by this action.

ANCHOR: So what impact do you expect this will have on local sales tax collections, and how might that affect the city and state budgets going forward?

Dr. King Banaian: Well, many cities will collect money on food and beverage. That will be impacted in this month and in coming months from lower sales. You've got restaurants that are closing here. I saw a notice from one restaurant over in St Joseph near us that just said they they're not going to be open for the foreseeable future. So you will see a drop in that food and beverage tax. You will also see, I think, broader sales tax implications as well, coming out of the fact that there's less commerce that's going to happen. Commerce involves people being out and engaging with each other. There's less of that happening when people are unwilling to go into public.

ANCHOR: I would like to hear from you like, is there anything you'd like to share that I haven't touched on?

Dr. King Banaian: Well, Grace, I would say, probably the most important part to remember is the ripple effects, the fact that you may think to yourself, this is just something simply happening to the immigrant community, and my heart might go out to them and so forth, but it's not impacting me in some tangible economic way. That's not true. Okay, I think it's most certainly the case that the ripple effects from this, the longer it goes on, will show up in impacts. Here's another example, probably not a big issue right now, because most construction workers who are immigrants are in particular, subcontractors like roofing. I'm a fan of many of the Latin American restaurants here in the St Cloud area. Many of them, at lunchtime, will have roofing crews having their lunch. They're not around in the winter anyway, because who goes on a roof in the winter? But as time goes on, those people you're having work done in your house—those people are not coming to work. And all of a sudden, you might be building a new home, and you can't get them to come in to that subcontractor, come in to do their part, and the rest of your building, of your home, is waiting, not for a part, but for a worker. And that impact in construction, I think, will become more apparent as we move into spring and summer. It's not probably as apparent right now. It's just a matter of how long will this increased enforcement last in our community?

ANCHOR: Well, thank you so much for joining us today. Professor Banaian.

Dr. King Banaian: Thank you.

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ANCHOR: This is North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, has reached a nearly $3 million enforcement agreement with Enbridge Energy over a fourth confirmed aquifer breach tied to the Line 3 replacement project near Moose Lake in Northern Minnesota. According to AMPERS member station KAXE, Enbridge officials first reported a small groundwater leak at the site in August 2022, with flows of 10 to 15 gallons per minute, far lower than previous breaches. Under the agreement, Enbridge will fund environmental projects, pay civil penalties, cover ongoing monitoring, and provide financial assurance for any future impacts, while the DNR continues to watch conditions at Moose Lake and along the Line 3 corridor.

A natural gas pipeline explosion shook a rural area near Willow River in east-central Minnesota. Officials reported no injuries but said that more than 600 Minnesota Energy Resources customers lost heat. The power company had to ask customers to keep their thermostats at 60 degrees temporarily until they could establish a more permanent fuel supply. Pine County authorities and investigators say they do not suspect anything criminal but are still trying to determine the cause of the explosion.

Good news for fans of the Minnesota State Fair. The admission and parking prices are going to stay the same as last year. This year’s fair will start on August 27th and run through September 7. At its 167th annual meeting in St. Paul, the board that oversees the State Fair also approved more than $67 million in spending to upgrade the fairgrounds, improve the guest experience, and expand educational and entertainment programs. AMPERS, which produces and distributes North Star Stories, will have a booth once again this year in the Education Building. A different AMPERS station broadcasts from the booth each day. Be sure to stop by and see us.

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ANCHOR: That's all the time we have for today's program. If you missed any part of today's newscast, you can find this and past episodes at AMPERS dot org, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us on social media. Thanks for listening, and we'll be back next week with more stories and voices from the North Star State.

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.