I'm writing to share an important update from the field and to reaffirm LULAC's unwavering commitment to civil rights, due process, and humane immigration enforcement.

This week, representatives of the LULAC joined with the NAACP for a historic visit to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to stand in solidarity with community members impacted by an unprecedented federal immigration enforcement operation and the deadly violence inflicted by federal immigration agents and officers.

Solidarity with Minneapolis Communities

In partnership with the NAACP, LULAC publicly reaffirmed our commitment to civil rights, due process, and humane immigration enforcement. Our delegation stood with community members who have endured daily fear, intimidation, and loss amid the presence of an extensive federal force deployed under Operation Metro Surgea surge of ICE, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Border Patrol agents sent to Minneapolis in late 2025 and continuing through January 2026.

Local leaders described a sustained federal law enforcement deployment of roughly 3,000 agents, a force five times larger than the Minneapolis Police Department.

Community Engagement and Listening Sessions

During our visit, the LULAC-NAACP delegation participated in a Community Conversation with local stakeholders, civil rights advocates, and impacted families. Our purpose was clear: to listen to firsthand accounts of what residents, immigrants, and families have enduredfrom the psychological toll of daily detention operations to the trauma inflicted by violent confrontations and a climate of fear that has permeated neighborhoods where federal agents have set up checkpoints, executed arrests, or engaged with residents without transparent due process.

We heard testimony about:

• Families raided without warrants, with children terrified by aggressive tactics.
• Misidentifications and wrongful detentions, including instances where residents were marched from homes in their underwear due to faulty intelligence.
• People pulled from cars or questioned on the street in ways residents describe as racially discriminatory.

Meeting with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison

Our delegation also met with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to discuss the legal and civil rights concerns arising from the federal enforcement surge. Attorney General Ellison reaffirmed Minnesota's position that the state is operating within its laws and expressed concern that federal actions may be violating civil rights and constitutional protections. He emphasized the need for accountability, transparency, and measurable de-escalation steps moving forward.

LULACs Delegationand Why This Matters

Our presence was not ceremonial. It sent a clear message: LULAC stands with Latino families, immigrant communities, and all residents whose civil liberties are at risk. This federal presenceframed by federal authorities as a mission to arrest and deport criminal alienshas, in practice, infected entire neighborhoods with fear and mistrust, affecting citizens and immigrants alike.

This visit marked a historic moment for LULAC:

It strengthened our coalition with the community, the NAACP, and local grassroots organizations. It opened new channels of communication with Minnesota leaders at the city and state levels. It reaffirmed that LULAC will continue to advocate for justice, accountability, and the protection of civil rights across jurisdictionswherever federal policy directly touches our communities.

In the Media

• CBS News: LULAC joins NAACP in Minneapolis to call for federal accountability in Operation Metro Surge. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation's largest and oldest Latino civil rights group, is in Minneapolis on Tuesday with heavy hearts and a clear purpose amid Operation Metro Surge.
• FOX 9: LULAC, NAACP leaders visit Alex Pretti memorial. The leaders of the League of United Latin American Citizens and NAACP were in Minnesota on Tuesday and visited the memorial site of Alex Pretti, the Minneapolis resident shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent on Saturday.

We will provide ongoing updates and opportunities for members to support advocacy, legal efforts, and community solidarity as these events continue to unfold.

Thank you for all you do for our mission and for one another.

In solidarity,