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Let me be very clear: what is happening in Minnesota is unconstitutional, inhumane, and must end. The reckless deployment of 3,000 unidentified, masked and armed ICE agents hunting down our neighbors is harming our communities, and it is not OK. Here is a direct link to the full Congressional field hearing Kidnapped and Disappeared: Trump's Deadly Assault on Minnesota that was held at the Capitol last week.
Renee Good should still be here today. She was a devoted mother, a compassionate neighbor, and a person whose life mattered deeply. Her killing is both heartbreaking and infuriating.
In the aftermath of this crime, ICE attacked Minnesotans on school property, while the Trump administration told us not to believe what we were seeing. Now, the federal government is blocking Minnesota law enforcement from investigating Renee Good’s killing, denying standard collaboration that is essential when a community has been so profoundly disrupted.
This decision shuts Minnesota out entirely: our law enforcement cannot review the evidence, examine the facts, or represent our state at the table. Minnesotans deserve a thorough, independent investigation they can trust. Our BCA agents are nonpartisan, career professionals who have earned the public’s confidence over years of service.
Students and teachers must be safe going to school. Healthcare workers must be able to report to work without fear of detention based on how they look. Small businesses must be able to operate without anxiety that someone will burst through the door with a fake warrant to detain customers, workers, or owners.
And our right to peaceful protest must be protected. I was relieved by last week’s federal court decision affirming that right. This preliminary win matters for every Minnesotan who believes in our constitutional freedoms. Thank you to the Minnesota ACLU for their critical work.
Under this ruling:
   It is very difficult to make sense of any of this. But I do know that it is intolerable. You can get involved.
Here is a toolkit with information relating to knowing civil rights, legal assistance, emergency contacts, advocacy and community support, and numerous other resources.
If you would like to support our communities through mutual aid and donations, here are links:
Hornet Cares Fund. This tax-deductible fund helps support students and families facing temporary hardship ensuring stability, dignity, and continued access to school and community resources. You’ll also find ways to volunteer and get involved in support efforts across Edina and the greater Twin Cities.
Bloomington Mutual Aid. This is a fully volunteer-led mutual aid effort working in partnership with Oak Grove Presbyterian Church. There are no paid staff or overhead costs. Funds are used directly to meet real needs identified by families, schools, and community organizers.
“The surge of DHS agents into Minnesota has done tremendous harm to the people of Minnesota, and I urge those who have personally experienced or directly witnessed that harm to share their stories with my office.
What’s most useful to my office right now are experiences that are specific and as detailed and direct as possible. In order to highlight certain impacts in Court, we may need to speak with eyewitnesses or those directly involved, rather than just collecting stories you have heard secondhand.
My team and I will use these stories and experiences to assist in our ongoing fight to end the federal surge in Minnesota and the chaos, pain, and violence it has caused.”
To submit a report, visit: ag.state.mn.us/Federal-Action/
I’m honored to collaborate with Commissioner Edelson, HC Adult Representation Services and other District 6 MN lawmakers to answer community questions about the increased federal immigration and customs enforcement in Minnesota.
This Know Your Rights Virtual Q&A is an opportunity to get clear, reliable information, understand your rights, and hear directly from legal experts in a respectful, community-centered space.
Sign up and submit your questions here.
Join Sen. Mann and me for a pre-legislative session discussion this Thursday, Jan 22, 6:30-8pm!
RSVP: tinyurl.com/townhall-rsvp
Powerful, deeply moving testimony filled the Edina City Council’s special meeting last week as community members spoke in support of the city’s proposed Firearm Safety and Safe Storage ordinance. The call to action was unmistakable, with the 345-strong Edina chapter of Moms Demand Action – MN standing firmly behind it.
As I shared in my testimony, “you can be damn sure I’ll work my ass off down at the Legislature until we get some things passed.” This session, I will co-author a preemption bill that, if passed, would allow cities to strengthen local gun violence prevention measures.
I am also continuing my work with Edina and Bloomington Student Policy Fellows and will introduce legislation to increase firearm storage requirements in vehicles parked on school property, while removing a statutory exception that currently gives a single principal sole discretion to allow permit-holders to carry firearms in schools.
With a tied and divided House, passing meaningful gun violence prevention legislation will be challenging. Still, I will keep pushing to center these conversations, secure votes, and make clear who is standing in the way of changes most Minnesotans want.
As I prepare to fight hard for these reforms, I want to hear from you. Please take a moment to fill out my short survey. Thank you.
Minnesota’s new Paid Family & Medical Leave program has officially launched! And already several thousand Minnesotans are making use of it. Passed in 2023, Paid Leave provides partial wage replacement for up to 12 weeks of medical leave for a serious health condition, including pregnancy and recovery, and 12 weeks of family leave to care for a new child, a seriously ill loved one, or certain military- or safety-related needs. Workers may use up to 20 total weeks per year if both types of leave are needed.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has created toolkits for both workers and businesses, covering eligibility, benefits, timelines, premiums, and frequently asked questions.
For many Minnesotans, missing a single paycheck can create serious financial hardship. Paid Leave provides real security—so no one has to risk their economic stability to care for themselves or their family. This program has been years in the making, and I’m excited for families across our community to finally have this peace of mind. Learn more and access resources at pl.mn.gov.
I welcome your thoughts and questions and encourage you to stay in touch. You can reach me at [email protected] or 651-296-4363. To receive legislative updates, please subscribe and follow along on my facebook page.
Thank you for staying engaged. Please take care of yourself and one another in these challenging and uncertain times. As always, it's an honor to represent you.
Warm regards,
Julie Greene State Representative
District 50A
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