Minnesota Now

President Donald Trump threatened on social media Thursday to invoke the Insurrection Act to stop resistance to ICE activity in Minnesota.

United States presidents have used the act about 30 times in the past, according to NPR. The most recent was in 1992. That year, President George H.W. Bush invoked the law to quell riots in Los Angeles after four police officers were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King.

Trump has talked before about using the law to support immigration enforcement.

For perspective on the law, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with University of Minnesota law professor Ilan Wurman, who specializes in Constitutional law and presidential power.

Since federal immigration enforcement began in December, mutual aid networks have popped up across the state to support immigrant families. A church in south Minneapolis has been a hub for delivering groceries.

DHH church serves primarily Hispanic families. But their community has grown. In total, they’ve delivered 12,000 boxes of groceries over about six weeks. They have more than 20,000 families registered to receive food. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke to Senior Pastor Sergio Amezcua.

On Wednesday a federal agent shot and wounded a man who the Department of Homeland Security said was fleeing federal officers in north Minneapolis. DHS said the officer fired a defensive shot because he was "ambushed and attacked" and feared for his life.

That happened exactly a week after the deadly shooting of Renee Macklin Good by an ICE agent in south Minneapolis. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with MPR's Estelle Timar-Wilcox to cover what is known about the shooting, and Dymanh Chhoun, a multimedia journalist at Sahan Journal, who spent the evening in north Minneapolis as protests erupted following the shooting.

Also hear from Democrat State Sen. Bobby Joe Champion was also on the scene last night and live streaming what he saw.

Wednesday morning, people gathered at a vigil for Renee Macklin Good, a week after she was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. And the U.S. Department of Justice response to her death led six federal prosecutors in the state to resign.

Owners of child care centers said they've faced safety concerns since the release of a viral video alleging daycare fraud. We talked with two in St. Paul who are asking the city for help.

Plus, we talked to a Minneapolis city council member who is calling for an eviction moratorium during the ICE and Border Patrol operations.

Social media feeds are full of videos of ICE encounters. Some are real and some are AI generated. We hear expert advice on how to tell the difference.

Childcare leaders in St. Paul said childcare centers are facing escalating safety threats. And now, they’re calling on the city to provide clarity on what officials and police can do to keep childcare settings safe.

The escalation follows the release of a video in December by content creator Nick Shirley, making yet-proven claims about fraud at childcare centers. And now, the immigration operation is having an impact too.

A spokesperson for St. Paul Police told MPR News in a statement that here have been no threats or incidents occurring at child care centers in Saint Paul.

“The safety of our children is of the upmost importance to us. We encourage community members to contact us immediately if they suspect suspicious activity.”

MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Maria Snider, the vice president of the Minnesota Child Care Association and a director of a child care center in St. Paul as well as Dawn Uribe, CEO and owner of Mis Amigos Preschool, which has four Twin Cities locations, including one in St. Paul.

With federal agents in the streets, some Minneapolis council members said residents are reporting they can’t safely go to work and pay rent. With increased federal law enforcement presence in the Twin Cities since December first, city leaders say the bills are piling up for people.

MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Minneapolis council member Robin Wonsley, who represents the eastern part of the city, to discuss this and other ripple effects of the immigration operation.

It's been one week since an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Macklin Good in south Minneapolis.

Community members are keeping up a growing memorial at the intersection of 34th Street and Portland Avenue South. Local activists and faith leaders met there Wednesday morning for a three-hour vigil. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with MPR News reporter Estelle Timar-Wilcox, who was present at the vigil.

Minnesota Now continues to cover escalating encounters between immigration law enforcement and Minnesotans. We have team coverage from MPR News, tracking all aspects of this operation. Including an on-the-ground report from our journalists documenting ICE.

We talked with people who have had various encounters with immigrations agents, including two observers who were detained for more than eight hours and a Somali American Uber driver who went viral for his confrontation with border patrol.

We also heard from an expert from the ACLU about what to do if you encounter ICE.

Plus, a woman shares her experience being pulled over by ICE and how an observer on the sidewalk helped her remain calm during the intense experience.

Minnesota Now spoke to Minnesotans who have had encounters with federal law enforcement. Listen to hear the stories of a mom pulled over by ICE on the way to drop kids off at school, a Somali Uber driver questioned by Customs and Border Patrol and observers who were detained for eight hours.

More and more Minnesotans are having escalating encounters with federal law enforcement agents.

South Minneapolis residents Patty O'Keefe and Brandon Sigüenza had an encounter with ICE agents after observing the agents from their car and shared their experience. MPR News host Nina Moini then spoke to ACLU Minnesota attorney Ian Bratile about how to legally handle interactions with federal immigration agents.