Minnesota Now

Wednesday morning, tenants advocates gathered at the state capitol to call for an eviction moratorium and rent relief funding statewide for people who are behind on rent as a result of amped-up ICE presence in. The authority to enact an eviction moratorium for the state lies with Governor Tim Walz, who has said he can't do it without declaring a peacetime emergency. He has so far been unwilling to make that move.

Amanda Otero, an executive director for the nonprofit Take Action Minnesota, said workers and families are absorbing the economic impact of the ICE surge in the state. “Housing stability is not separate from recovery,” Otero said. “It is the foundation of it.”

One of the groups pushing for the moratorium and even greater measures to support renters is the newly-formed Twin Cities Tenants Union. It's a combination of already-existing unions across Minneapolis and St. Paul that came together over the past two months to advocate for renters who have lost income during the ICE surge. The group is pushing for a rent strike beginning March 1.

Lucid Thomas has been organizing with the tenants union and he joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain.

The Minnesota Multi Housing Association is a group that advocates for landlords and building managers. CEO Cecil Smith said in a statement to MPR News that rent collections overall were stable in January and February and on par with the previous year, according to the group’s members. He said the association will “continue to help those seeking rental assistance.”

State investigators are taking a new step to get evidence related to the federal law enforcement shootings that took place in Minneapolis during the ICE surge. The Hennepin County Attorney's office announced Wednesday morning that it is filing a formal request for evidence from the federal government in the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti and the shooting in north Minneapolis that injured Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.

Estelle Timar-Wilcox was at the press conference and joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about what this means for the investigations.

As the Trump Administration has focused federal immigration activity on different cities around the United States, it has publicized the names and photos of immigrants it calls “the Worst of the Worst.” A Minnesota family is speaking out about their loved one who was given that label. At “Ricky” Chandee came to the U.S. as a refugee from Laos as a child. He was convicted of assault at age 18 and served a prison sentence more than thirty years ago. Back then, Laos refused to accept his deportation. He has since built a life in Minnesota.

Minnesota Now producer Alanna Elder reports Chandee is now detained in El Paso, Texas and facing possible deportation.

Lawmakers are gaveling in a new legislative session Tuesday after a series of heavy events since the end of the last session, including the Annunciation shooting and the killing of former House speaker Melissa Hortman. We learned about how they're grieving and being called to action.

Among the items on the agenda for day one of the session: honoring Mark and Melissa Hortman. We heard from their son Colin Hortman in his first sit-down interview since their killing.

As the Trump Administration continues its campaign against people they say are threats to public safety, a Minnesota family is speaking out about their loved one who was given that label and has been detained for weeks.

An effort to support small businesses affected by the federal surge is underway.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Hold On” by Joe Davis and our Song of the Day was “French Fry Marlene” by Texas Toast.

Minneapolis poet, musician and activist Joe Davis and his band, The Poetic Diaspora, is preparing a long lineup of musicians to celebrate Black music and poetry. Their show, “Diaspora: On the Rise” is set for Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at Northrop Auditorium in Minneapolis.

Davis joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about showing up for his community as an artist in hard times, expression through poetry and the musicians he’s working with to celebrate the work he’s done with his band.

In a new series, Minnesota Now is airing the voices of people who have been hiding in their homes due to fear of arrest, detention or deportation during Minnesota’s federal ICE surge. We asked them to send us voice memos for three days in a row, describing how they are spending their days.

N is a Mexican immigrant. MPR News is only using her first initial, due to fears of safety. N hasn’t left her home in weeks. She said she doesn't trust what federal officials have recently said about a drawdown of ICE agents in Minnesota. She worries things may get worse before they get better, and said that ICE watchers continue to spot federal vehicles and agents in her town almost daily.

This series will continue on Minnesota Now this week. Listen at noon to hear more voices or check back on our show page.

The ACLU of Minnesota shared the stories of 80 Minnesotans in its lawsuit against the federal government over alleged civil rights violations by ICE and Border Patrol agents in the state. We'll talk to a lawyer with the group about its next steps.

The Trump Administration said it's pulled at least one thousand federal agents from the state.

We'll check in with a neighborhood group in Minneapolis to learn if conditions have improved for small businesses.

We'll hear the latest in our series about Minnesotans in hiding due to fears of detention and deportation.

And we'll find out how the federal surge has impacted the lead-up to Ramadan, which begins this week.

Plus, we'll talk with our sports contributors about the Winter Olympics and more.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “See You See” by Gully Boys and our Song of the Day was “I Don't Care About You” by Jeremy Jewell.

The U.S. women’s hockey team beat Sweden 5-0 at the Winter Olympics. Team USA is stacked with Minnesotans, while Sweden has multiple current players and alumni of the University of Minnesota-Duluth on its roster. Going into the game, both teams were undefeated.

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

As the federal surge winds down, businesses are figuring out what’s next. Minneapolis officials released preliminary estimates last Friday showing in one month alone, restaurants and small businesses across the city saw $81 million in lost revenue as a result of the operation.

Businesses on Eat Street in Minneapolis were among the many impacted in recent weeks. The business corridor became a site of confrontations and protests in the wake of the killing of Alex Pretti.

The Whittier Alliance has been working to support places on Eat Street and in the wider neighborhood during the surge. Anna Schmitz heads the organization and joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk more about what lies ahead.

In a new series, Minnesota Now is airing the voices of people who have been hiding in their homes due to fear of arrest, detention, or deportation during Minnesota's ICE surge. We asked them to send us voice memos for three days in a row, describing how they are spending their days.

P is an immigrant from Mexico. MPR News is not using his full name for his safety. He and his wife have barely left their home for weeks. Since the announcement of federal agents leaving Minnesota, P said he and his wife feel slightly calmer, but they are still in hiding until they see evidence of that for themselves.

This series will continue on Minnesota Now this week. Listen at noon to hear more voices or check back on our show page.