Minnesota Now

ICE's actions are hurting the safety and learning of Minnesota students. That was the message of superintendents and elected officials this week, as they called for ICE to leave the state. As students worry about the safety of their loved ones or stay home from school, education leaders warn student education will suffer the same losses documented during the COVID pandemic.

Several school districts, including Minneapolis and St. Paul public schools, have created a virtual option for for students who feel safer learning from home. And this week, St. Paul announced changes to its grading system to account for potential disruptions in learning. Joining Minnesota Now to talk about all of this is Stacie Stanley, superintendent of St. Paul Public Schools.

U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar said she is OK after being attacked at a town hall last night. A man sprayed an unknown substance at her after she called for the federal government to abolish ICE. We have the latest on that story.

Plus, the Border Patrol's Greg Bovino has left Minneapolis. But has federal immigration activity changed on the ground? We talked with city council members in Minneapolis and St. Paul about what they're hearing.

The actions of federal agents have pushed Democratic and Republican politicians to take new stances on ICE. A political scientist explains the shift.

And a new shelter and supportive housing program has opened just three blocks from where Border Patrol agents killed Alex Pretti.

Our Minnesota Minute was “Alone” by Trampled by Turtles.

The bitter cold of Minnesota is especially dangerous for unhoused people who are living outside. That means the work of supportive housing and outreach is all the more urgent. But federal immigration activities on top of the frigid weather have created challenges for street outreach programs like Agate Housing and Services and Simpson Housing Services.

Both are also working in the same neighborhood where Alex Pretti was killed by federal agents.

Anvis Aryavong shared the challenges his street team is facing when helping people find shelter. And MPR News host Nina Moini spoke to Wendy Wiegmann, the associate director for Simpson Housing Services about the problems they have been running into.

A growing number of Republicans are pressing for a deeper investigation into tactics of federal immigration agents in Minnesota after the killing of Alex Pretti over the weekend. Top leaders from DHS, ICE and Customs and Border Protection will testify before congress in two weeks after a hearing was called by several congressional Republicans.

Democrats are also becoming louder and using stronger language in their opposition to ICE. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Larry Jacobs, founder and director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota, for some analysis on this political moment.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.

Border patrol chief Greg Bovino has officially left Minnesota and Border Czar Tom Homan has been put in charge of operations in the state. In an MPR News interview earlier this week, Governor Tim Walz said that in a private conversation, President Trump had pledged to do things differently with ICE in Minnesota. We don’t yet know what that will mean for ICE presence— or agent behavior — in the state.

St. Paul city council vice president Hwa Jeong Kim and Minneapolis city council member Robin Wonsley joined Minnesota Now to talk about what they’ve seen in the last 24 hours.

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was attacked at a town hall Tuesday night when a man lunged at her and sprayed a substance. The town hall was about ongoing federal immigration enforcement.

MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with MPR News reporter Peter Cox to explain the latest on the investigation.

A federal judge in Minneapolis has ordered the head of ICE to appear in court. We find out why and break down two other lawsuits over federal immigration activity in Minnesota. Plus, we hear from Governor Tim Walz about a recent call with the president.

This is the seventh week of increasingly heightened ICE presence in the Twin Cities. We talked to St. Paul's new mayor Kaohly Her about how she's responding and how the city is faring now.

A Columbia Heights, 5-year-old is still in immigration detention in Texas with his father. We learn about a protest inside the facility.

For more than 20 years, a theater company has brought to life stories of housing insecurity. They'll perform on a frozen lake this weekend.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “48 Hours” by Humbird and our Song of the Day was “Lemonade” by Beginner's Luck.

A Twin Cities-based theater company is portraying stories of homelessness and housing insecurity. Many of the performers have lived experience with these issues. For more than two decades, zAmya Theater Project has been putting on productions. They have weekly workshops at the Minneapolis Central Library and they're performing at the Art Shanty Projects on Lake Harriet this weekend.

MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with troupe member Jada Windom and artistic director Maren Ward about the company.

5-year-old Liam Conejo-Ramos is still in immigration detention, his mother told MPR News. ICE officers detained the boy and his father last Friday in Columbia Heights on their way home from school.

The story of Conejo-Ramos’ detention has circulated all over the world. And news of protests this weekend in Minnesota apparently reached the detention center in Dilley, Texas where the child and his father are being held. Detainees demonstrated there this weekend. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Attorney Eric Lee, who heard the protest, and Sam Doiron, an attorney with the Texas-based group RAICES.

It’s the seventh week of heightened immigration enforcement presence in Minnesota. The presence of federal law enforcement has had an impact on many parts of life, with St. Paul businesses closing or reducing hours, citizens being arrested and schools with virtual options.

MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her about local and state leader’s actions during this time.