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Dear Granite City Neighbors,
The grit and unity of the Granite City will prevail over the chaos and division of ICE.
Since the tragic killing of Renee Good, ICE is now terrorizing members of our community in St. Cloud.
The Trump administration says this is in the name of public safety, but all I’ve seen is chaos, disarray, and bigotry as ICE targets our immigrant communities with unlawful force. President Trump also says “reckoning and retribution” are coming for our state, which only serves to heighten tensions.
ICE’s significant operations in Minnesota have been going on for a month, but were thrust onto a national and global stage last week with the senseless and tragic killing of Renee Good. Since then, ICE has doubled down on chaos in our state, increasing the number of agents to the thousands and extending their scope well beyond the Twin Cities.
Disturbingly, the federal government has also blocked state officials from their investigation into Renee Good’s killing. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is full of incredibly talented and trustworthy men and women, many of them are former law enforcement officers who protected our communities. Blocking these state investigators from crucial evidence will not further truth and justice, but inhibit it.
And now, in St. Cloud, more than 50 ICE agents descended on Star City Mall on Monday. A large show of force for what seemed to initially be for a single arrest, but later included other detained community members who came to protest ICE’s actions.
With no signs of ICE’s operations in our community slowing down, I want to encourage our neighbors to stay safe, know their rights, and protest peacefully.
My colleagues in the Senate DFL have put together a powerful and practical immigration resource toolkit. In the House, we have also compiled immigration resources, and they are available for our neighbors in English, Spanish, Somali, and Hmong.
Please share with loved ones, friends, and those who you think may benefit from the information. The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota is also providing legal support to Minnesotans who are detained by ICE.
Stay safe, and as always, feel free to reach out with any ideas, questions, or to get in touch with issues most important to you. You can contact me at [email protected] or 651-296-6612, and stay in the loop by following along on my official Facebook page.
Sincerely,
Rep. Dan Wolgamott
District 14B
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