In this episode of Art of Citizenry Podcast, Manpreet Kaur Kalra speaks with Minnesota State Senator Erin Maye Quade from the epicenter of ICE’s siege. Across Minnesota, intensified immigration operations have made daily life unsafe and unpredictable, destabilizing families and threatening people’s basic autonomy and human rights. From masked agents going door to door and idling near schools to racially profiling and arbitrarily kidnapping children and adults, the federal government has carried out an occupation marked by unlawful tactics designed to intimidate and detain. 

The conversation moves beyond the headlines to unpack the lived reality on the ground. Senator Maye Quade explains why documentation and constitutional observing have become critical tools of protection, how mutual aid networks are sustaining families, and what meaningful accountability could require in the months and years ahead.

We explore:

• What Operation Metro Surge looks like on the ground and how ICE is using racial profiling to terrorize communities.
• The importance of constitutional observing and documentation as tools for accountability.
• Community resilience in the face of state violence and how mutual aid networks are sustaining families through rent support, food distribution, childcare, and emergency response as families shelter in place.
• The possibilities of state-level action amid federal overreach.
• What other states and communities should prepare for if this playbook spreads.

Meet Our Guest

Minnesota State Senator Erin Maye Quade made history in 2022 as the first out lesbian, the first Black mom, and one of the first Black women elected to the Minnesota Senate. She serves as Vice Chair of both the Education Policy and State and Local Government Committees, and she is a member of the Human Services and Education Finance Committees. Senator Maye Quade has successfully led initiatives to expand reproductive freedom, protect LGBTQ+ rights, safeguard election integrity, and promote literacy, among other key priorities.

Pay Attention. Stay Informed. Take Action. 

• Want to show up in a meaningful way? Visit StandWithMinnesota.com to contribute to mutual aid efforts and connect with trusted support resources.
• Know your rights and build communication networks with neighbors. Preparation and community are powerful forms of defense. Download red cards in your preferred language: ilrc.org/redcards

Content warning: This episode includes descriptions of state violence, please take care while listening. 

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