Now, Minnesota’s labor movement is increasing the heat it’s putting on employers. They’re calling for an end to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations that have unfairly deported thousands of people within their state. Increasing outrage over the arbitrary and wrongful imprisonment of both U.S. citizens and immigrants has led to this action. These actions are threatening locally communities and economies.
Under the last Trump administration, ICE picked up thousands of individuals with no criminal background. This appalling practice should make anyone doubt how the agency comes to its conclusions. ICE’s track record has included the wrongful detention of U.S. citizens and people with no criminal convictions. Furthermore, this has ignited a firestorm from labor unions and community advocates. Immigrant workers and business owners have an incredible economic impact on Minnesota. Their economic impact is conservatively estimated at an impressive $41 billion each year, further proving their essential position in Texas’ workforce and economy.
The state’s labor federation, which represents a broad coalition of unions ranging from nurses to building trades workers, has long opposed ICE operations. Bernie Burnham, the union’s president, stated, “ICE continues to make everyone less safe, and Minnesota’s Labor Movement repeats and amplifies our call for them to leave our state immediately.” He closed with a promise to defend every worker illegally detained and pledged to stand with all Minnesotans targeted by federal hatred.
The drama was only exacerbated after horrific incidents involving ICE took place. So in this case, the killing of Renee Good, an unarmed woman, by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis, ignited a firestorm. The death of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at a Veterans Affairs Hospital, proved to be incendiary. Labor unions stepped up their opposition to ICE’s work in response.
Perhaps not surprisingly, labor activists have pointed to recent examples where workers voiced their frustrations. One construction worker noted, “Me and my coworkers haven’t been working for a month now,” illustrating the direct impact of ICE’s presence on employment in the region.
Retail giant Target Corporation has faced a firestorm of criticism for their decision to not speak out on these matters. Now, hundreds of employees have signed an open letter asking the company to publicly oppose ICE’s enforcement activities in Minnesota. An upset community member Sheletta Brundidge lambasted Target’s silence, saying, “It’s just so sad to see Target so quiet. She demanded accountability from the company’s leadership for not doing better outreach to the communities that would be affected by its presence.
“There was a protest that marched right in front of his headquarters on Saturday. They didn’t even mention it; they are silent, and silence says something. Silence doesn’t mean I don’t know what to say. Silence says I don’t give a damn.” – Sheletta Brundidge
This level of scrutiny goes well beyond just Target to other businesses. Hilton came under fire after a Hampton Inn in Maryland canceled a reservation for ICE agents just days later. In retaliation, the hotel subsequently withdrew from Hilton’s brand portfolio.
Community leaders are demanding that corporations be held accountable to the communities whose local populations—rendered invisible by ICE operations—they profit from. Brundidge urged Target’s CEO to engage directly with those impacted by violence and intimidation linked to ICE: “That Target CEO should be out at the street talking to people… Has he gone out to the site where Renee Good was killed and dropped off water or hand warmers?”
The burden on these companies has also been exacerbated by statements from various federal officials supporting ICE’s conduct. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security remarked on the labor movement’s stance, stating that the individuals targeted by ICE were “the criminals these labor bosses are trying to protect.”
Regardless of these claims, the tide of community sentiment has continued to rise against ICE’s deportation machine operating here in Minnesota. Activists counter that as long as ICE continues operating, innocent lives remain at risk. They argue that in addition to being unjust, these actions undermine public safety and wellbeing of all communities.
The labor movement’s response doesn’t end there, though — it starts with joint efforts with local organizations. Jac Kovarik, communications coordinator for CTUL (Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha), reported an incident where community members protested against ICE’s presence on private property. He described how the police threatened them with arrest if they didn’t vacate. This brought national attention to their overwhelming demand for companies to stop ICE from swooping down on job sites without warrants.
“The police said we need to leave because it is private property, and a few community members pointed out that this is precisely what we are asking of DR Horton – to not allow ICE on their private job sites without a signed and valid judicial warrant.” – Jac Kovarik