Minnesota Now

A former ICE lawyer says the agency is allowing hundreds of new agents into the field poorly trained. The whistleblower resigned in February and he told Democrats in Congress that what agents are not learning at the academy poses a danger to the public.

Deportations of Hmong and Lao people spiked last year, according to groups working with Southeast Asian communities in Minnesota. We heard more from one of the organizations behind a new effort to help Southeast Asian Minnesotans navigate deportations and detentions.

Plus, how boosters of the new "Bear Larp" business district aim to revitalize the greater east side of St. Paul.

And two brothers from Minneapolis are out with a new film about a fellow Minnesotan: cross-country skiing icon Jessie Diggins.

A former lawyer for Immigration and Customs Enforcement who helped train new agents said the agency’s training academy is deficient and broken. Ryan Schwank became a whistleblower after he resigned earlier this month. He then went public during a forum held by congressional Democrats on Monday.

He spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about his experience as a trainer for ICE.

A new film shares an intimate portrait of the country’s most decorated cross-country skier, Jessie Diggins.

It shows her tough resolve in competition – and her determination to maintain her recovery from an eating disorder. Diggins has been open about going through a relapse in 2023.

Brothers Lars and Torsten Brinkema from Minneapolis are behind the new film, "Threshold," streaming now on Peacock. They gave a preview of the story on Minnesota Now.

A new effort has launched to provide support to Southeast Asian communities across the state navigating detainment and deportation.

"The Southeast Asian Defense Response Project" is a collaboration of four different organizations: ManForward, Southeast Asian Freedom Network (SEAFN), Immigration Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM), and Transforming Generations.

They report that 2025 marked “the highest level of Hmong and Lao deportations in the last 15 years." Minnesota is home to some of the largest concentrations of various Southeast Asian groups, including Hmong, Lao, Karen, Vietnamese and Cambodian, among others.

Xay Yang, executive director of Transforming Generations, shared more about the project with host Nina Moini.

If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation with a partner, there is a 24-hour statewide domestic and sexual violence hotline. You can call Minnesota Day One at (866) 223-1111 or text (612) 399-9995. You can also call or text the Hmong Family Strengthening Helpline at (877) 740-4292.

For SEAFN’s 24/7 immigration assistance available in Hmong, Khmer, Vietnamese and Lao, call 1-(800) 251-1083. ILCM’s intake line can also be reached at 1-(800) 223-1368.

The city of St. Paul is looking to revitalize the greater east side neighborhood and it’s starting with a new name for its business district.

The “Bear Larp” district is the new identity for the business corridor at White Bear Avenue and Larpenteur Avenue. The Greater East Side Community Council is spearheading the project and its executive director Lisa Theis joined Minnesota Now to talk more about it.

A group of parents from Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis are determined to push for change at the Capitol this session. More on their new coalition's mission. And we'll to talk to a state lawmaker introducing a bill to ban assault weapons in Minnesota.

The state has presented a roadmap for preventing and addressing fraud. We'll hear more about it.

And a 16-year-old asylum seeker is finally back in Minnesota after being apprehended last month by immigration agents and sent to Michigan.

Then to Worthington for the latest on how the federal surge of agents affected the small, southern Minnesota city, where almost half of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Chorado” by Charles Lazarus and our Song of the Day was “Ferdy” by Sleeping Jesus.

Hockey fans may be feeling a little hoarse today. The Olympics wrapped with two wins for Team USA over Canada. Both games kept viewers on their toes, going into overtime with the U.S. beating a top rival 2-1, for both the men and women.

Joining Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about this and other sports news are our sports contributors, Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.

One Minnesota city now also looking towards recovery from the ICE surge is Worthington, in southern Minnesota. According to census data, 45 percent of the city’s population is Hispanic or Latino and 28 percent are foreign born. And the city has several immigrant-owned businesses.

Jaime Salinas is the CEO of Forward Worthington, which is the city’s chamber of commerce. He spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about the impact of ICE on the community and on local business.

A 16-year-old asylum seeker was apprehended by immigration agents in north Minneapolis last month. And unlike the thousands of people who were sent to the Whipple building, the Department of Homeland Security ended up sending him to a Christian youth shelter in Michigan.

Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Susan Du followed his story and spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about her reporting on the young asylum seeker.

As the legislative session kicks off this month, a group of Minneapolis parents are determined to drive change around gun violence in Minnesota.

Their children attend Annunciation Catholic School and were present during the mass shooting on August 27th. Two children were killed and 28 others injured.

As their community takes steps to heal, the parents also want to ensure that nothing like it ever happens again.

Meanwhile, lawmakers are set to introduce a slate of legislation aimed at gun violence prevention, school safety and mental health resources. DFL State Rep. Emma Greenman will introduce an assault weapon ban on Tuesday. Rep. Greenman joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the legislation.