Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page [ [link removed] ].






Esther Header

*Dear Neighbors*,  

In my last newsletter, I shared information on ways you and our communities can work together to keep each other informed and engaged, and to give us the tools we need to defend our neighbors from Trump and his federal agents.  

The President continues to ramp up his anti-Somali rhetoric, and now ICE is racially profiling American citizens and arresting them in broad daylight. These tactics by the federal administration are both unconstitutional and a waste of taxpayer dollars.  

Last week, their ICE operation came to our Northside neighborhood. I am angered by their abuse of power and the violence they continue use against citizens [ [link removed] ]. I cannot stress the importance of knowing your constitutional rights. I am adding the resources I shared again this week to ensure you know opportunities to get involved or to learn more about rapid response teams, as well as the available resources. Now is the time for all of us to come together.  

As a strong and resilient community, we know how to organize and fight back against this cruel abuse of power against our community members. Below is a ‘Know Your Rights’ graphic provided by the Immigrant Defense Network [ [link removed] ].  

fgndfgn

*Resources:* 


* [link removed] 

* [link removed] 

* [link removed] 

* [link removed] 

* [link removed] 

* [link removed] [ [link removed] ]   

* Immigration Legal Resource Center – Red Cards. Cards you can print to keep so that you know your rights. [link removed] 

* Citizens may want to fill out an ICE privacy waiver so that if you are detained, federal representatives can work quickly to secure your release. You can find the form here [ [link removed] ].
gbsfdbgfb

My colleagues in the Senate DFL have put together a powerful and practical immigration resource toolkit [ [link removed] ]. My colleagues and in the House have also compiled immigration resources, and they are available for our neighbors in English, Spanish [ [link removed] ], Somali [ [link removed] ], and Hmong [ [link removed] ]. 

Please share with loved ones, friends, and those who you think may benefit from the information. The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota [ [link removed] ] is also providing legal support to Minnesotans who are detained by ICE.   

Please continue to reach out to my office if you have any questions. The Trump Administration knows no bounds, and we need to stay together and support each other in any way we can. It is a deep honor to serve our district, and I will continue to work with my colleagues, community leaders, and local organizations leading this work to defend our neighbors from the unconstitutional actions of ICE in our beloved neighborhoods. 

________________________________________________________________________



Paid Leave Effective January 1, 2026

While the federal government continues to cut vital safety net programs like SNAP, Head Start, health care subsidies, and energy assistance for vulnerable communities, Minnesota values supporting each other and believes that no one deserves to have to choose between a paycheck and being able to take care of a sick or birthing loved one. As we are approaching the new year, I wanted to uplift one of the biggest accomplishments from our 2023-2024 legislative session: Paid Family Leave. Republicans tried to gut, delay, and repeal the legislation but Minnesotans fought long and hard for this victory and DFLers were not going to back down.  

I’m happy to share the program will officially launch on January 1st! Working Minnesotans will be able to access 12 weeks of paid medical leave for a serious health condition of their own, including pregnancy and recovery. The plan also provides up to 12 weeks of paid family leave to care for a new child, a seriously ill loved one, or for certain military or safety-related events, allowing a total of 20 weeks of combined leave per year if using both medical and family leave. 

All Minnesotans working and contributing to making our state a great place to live deserve to be able to care for themselves or loved ones without the fear of sacrificing a paycheck or facing financial ruin. Given the amount of economic uncertainty being caused by the federal government, Paid Leave offers a modicum of certainty in keeping your livelihood while taking care of your health. 

Leave applications for expecting parents are open now. You can learn more, prepare for Paid Family & Medical Leave, and find additional resources at [link removed]. [ [link removed] ]  

If you are a small business owner, check this link for specific resources: [link removed]. You can also reach out to the Paid Leave MN service center directly by calling 651-556-7777 or 844-556-0444. Also, please reach out to my office for any specific questions you might have that I can help with. 

fgsdfsfdgdfsg
________________________________________________________________________



As your state representative, it is important to me to hear from you, listen to your passions, and make sure they are heard at the legislature. To that end, I want to ensure you have ample ways of connecting with me and following the work I am doing. Starting in January, I will begin hosting an in-person office hour in our community. Please keep an eye out for more details soon. 

Sincerely,   

Representative Esther Agbaje (59B)
Minnesota House of Representatives
Legislative Assistant: Nhia Chang
[email protected]








To unsubscribe, visit the Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. If you have questions or experience technical difficulties with this subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Minnesota House DFL · 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. · Saint Paul, MN 55155 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]