ICE’s presence continues to intensify around the Twin Cities as the Department of Homeland Security ramps up Operation Metro Surge, what it asserts is the largest-ever immigration enforcement operation in its history. We’ve gathered information on how to support local immigrant communities—from fundraisers and food drives to know-your-rights trainings and businesses to support. We’ll continue to update this list as things shift and change; it’s currently updated to February 6. Reach out to dining@mspmag.com with tips.
Trainings and Know-Your-Rights Info
Thousands of people have either already completed or signed up for the Monarca network’s legal observer trainings—they fill to capacity quickly, but keep an eye on the website, as new ones are often added. Monarca also has valuable resources for community members on its website: signage to print for your business or private property and know-your-rights posters; community art PDFs; know your rights flyers, etc. They still have their rapid response line, too (612-441-2881).
Unidos MN has a thorough “know your rights” resource walking through a number of situations, i.e. if ICE shows up at your home or workplace, if you’re detained by the police, what documents to carry, etc.
The Star Tribune has compiled a great resource detailing what, exactly, ICE agents can and can’t do, and what rights legal observers have during encounters. Whether these parameters are being followed, of course, is another story, but it’s a worthwhile read.
Local writer Naomi Kritzer has an excellent guide with lots of detailed information on how to get trained, get connected, and do community defense in safe and smart ways.
If You or Your Loved Ones Are Affected by ICE Activity
The State of Minnesota has a very thorough webpage with various resources, from know-your-rights information to legal aid and health care information. If you’re looking for a broad range of services and legal information, head there.
If you are trying to find someone who has been detained by ICE, here’s a link to the Online Detainee Locator System.
Leo’s Tow is helping to return the abandoned vehicles of people who have been taken by ICE to their families, reach out via Facebook or at 651-703-4914 for help; Sanchez Towing is also doing abandoned vehicle recovery.
Sahan Journal has a great resource on how to avoid ICE entanglements while seeking healthcafe.
The Childbirth Collective is providing rapid response pregnancy, birthing, and prenatal care to those sheltering in place.
The Bond Between has SO many resources for families impacted by ICE operations who have pets, including emergency food kits, respite foster care, and more.
Neighborhood House in St. Paul’s West Side neighborhood, just across the way from El Burrito Mercado, offers a range of services: two food shelves, family service centers, housing stability, and more.
A number of grocery stores around the metro are offering free food delivery (and if you’re not directly impacted by ICE activity and are able to go out and shop, they’re great businesses to support). Also listed are local mutual aid organizations offering home delivery.
Rent Support
Big shoutout to organizer Ashley Fairbanks, who created Stand With Minnesota, an invaluable resource for both finding and offering support to neighbors as ICE’s metro operation continues. You’ll find a section on rent support fundraisers there, but for added visibility I’m going to cross-post them here, plus others I find:
Mutual Aid Funds and Organizations to Donate To
There’s also a huge need for direct mutual aid for the families of the now reported thousands of people across the metro who have been detained by ICE, or are otherwise affected by ICE activity. These fundraisers can be hard to track down via search, but I’ll continue to list what I find here. I know its a lot, but click through them and see where donations are lowest so far: for the Ponce family; for Sing and family; for a Minnesota family of nine; for Christian Rivera and family; for Donaldo’s family; for Zurzya Sanchez’s family; for Karla Lopez’s family; for Josefina and Gabriel; for a local family separated by ICE; for a family of four unable to work; for Gilberto Avillar’s family; for Jairo Pitalasig’s family; for a family whose young cousin was detained; for a group of seven local affected families; for a beloved Minneapolis neighbor unable to work after she was harassed by ICE at her job; for Marcos Tulio’s family; for Cris and his family; for Eustaquio “Paco” Orozco Verdusco and family; for a local postpartum mother; for Hiluf Mengesha Molla’s Legal Defense; for ChongLy Scott Thao’s family; for Alex and his son and family; for Cecilia and Cenaida; for Milton, who needs to access his medication for ankylosing spondylitis; and for Nouland, a veteran who had a stroke after being assaulted by ICE.
Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee has continued its food card fundraiser to help get groceries and necessities to families forced into hiding, parents kept away from work and kids from school. You can donate here.
This one is important: Mercado Central needs our help to stay open. The 35 family businesses located there—most of which have experienced business losses of more than 90 percent, some even 100 percent—need rent relief, and if they can’t pay rent, the cooperative may lose the building. Mercado Central opened in 1997. It’s impossible to imagine Lake Street, and Minneapolis, without it. You can donate here.
To put it bluntly: Due to ICE operations across the state, restaurants big and small are at a breaking point, enduring COVID levels of crisis but without any government funding in sight. You can donate to the Salt Cure Restaurant Recovery Fund, which is providing grants for essential needs like payroll and rent, or nominate a restaurant you know is struggling.
As mentioned above, The Childbirth Collective is providing rapid response pregnancy, birthing, and prenatal care to those sheltering in place; you can donate here.
You can find information on how to support Haven, a group that provides mutual aid in many forms and also cares for people being released from the Whipple Building after being detained, via this Instagram post.
Community Aid Network is an excellent evergreen mutual aid organization—you can donate directly, or sign up to volunteer for food distribution and deliveries at Bethel Lutheran Church via the link here. Here’s the organization’s latest update on what’s most needed.
Leo’s Tow, which (as mentioned above) is helping to return the abandoned vehicles of people who have been taken by ICE to their families, you can Venmo them at @leostowingmn.
Beyond Beurre Blanc, AKA local independent food critic Kirstie Kimball, is also an excellent resource for information on how to continue supporting local families as 1) ICE operations continue and 2) food stamps and other hunger relief programs are yet again frozen in Minnesota. She has assembled a list of Eat Street restaurants—which bore witness to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by ICE agents, served as makeshift hospitals for neighbors, and have surely lost an untold amount of business—to support by purchasing gift cards. She’s also a great resource to follow for ever-shifting community updates and ways to support neighbors as needs change.
The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota runs an Immigrant Rapid Response Fund that, in the organization’s words, “ensures that resources move quickly, responsibly, and with community accountability to trusted organizations responding to immigration-related emergencies across Minnesota.” It’s a good general fund to donate to.
The Immigrant Law Center is offering legal support to countless people detained by ICE in Minnesota—you can donate here.
Neighbors in St. Paul’s West Side neighborhood are fundraising to support their neighbors with rental assistance, food delivery, healthcare access and services, transportation, and legal support services.
A group of parents are providing direct support to the teachers and staff at a Longfellow neighborhood school—they’re distributing funds for groceries, an on-site pantry, and emergency rent/utilities. You can donate via Venmo; the school’s name is kept private for protection.
Teachers and staff in Brooklyn Center are raising funds for their affected students—volunteers will use the money to shop for groceries and essential goods and deliver them to homes. The group has also begun to use funds to support with rent and utilities.
Northern Coffeeworks is supporting a mutual aid request from a neighbor supporting 10 immigrant families with weekly food deliveries and basic essentials.
Smitten Kitten is doing amazing work and helping amplify various mutual aid fundraisers; keep an eye on their Instagram. Though they’re no longer accepting donations of goods at their Uptown shop, you can find a link to donate directly to Isuroon, which is supporting Somali families with essential goods, in their bio; they’re also fundraising to support a local family separated by ICE.
You can donate to help purchase personal protective equipment for legal observers here.
Food (and Essential Goods) Drives
These restaurants, cafes, and businesses are currently drop-off sites for donations to various food drives. We’re doing our best to keep up with all of these, but check social media ahead of time as hours and dates for drop-off may change:
Here’s a list of places you can volunteer with for food packing and delivery: Sanneh Foundation, Dios Habla Hoy, Calvary Food Shelf, and Twin Cities Food Justice (volunteer intake is paused at the moment but check back soon).
On that note, Twin Cities Food Justice does amazing work day in and day out; their food drive is ongoing, though cash donations are immensely helpful so that the organization can purchase the most-needed food items.
Dios Habla Hoy church in south Minneapolis, also mentioned above, has been an absolutely invaluable hub for food and essential good donations, packaging, and delivery. Here are full details on how to support, including direct donations and volunteering.
Joyce Uptown Foodshelf, which has done amazing work distributing groceries to families in need in the past few weeks, typically. accepts food donations on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. Here’s the latest update on their current needs. And remember, as they say via their Facebook, there are many ways to support the food shelf: TLDR is cash is king, think long-term, and space out your donations.
Over in St. Paul, Zion Community Commons, Open Market MN, and the Twin Cities Vegan Chef Collective are working together to assemble “Shelter in Place” packs for families unable to leave their homes. You can find more information via Instagram.
Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association (The Wedge) has an ongoing food share.
Not food, but the People’s Laundry does laundry service mutual aid—volunteer applications are paused for now, but check back in a few weeks, as they may reopen.
For the sake of keeping this list manageable, I’m also going to link to Stand With Minnesota’s list of food shelves (and check out the mutual aid section as well!).
Restaurants and Businesses to Support
One of the most-asked questions I’ve seen circulating on social media is: What businesses have been hit hardest by ICE’s presence, so we can support them? In short, the answer is: immigrant-owned restaurants who have large immigrant customer bases. I can’t draft up an exact and comprehensive list, much as I wish I could, but I can give you a place to start based on some of my favorites: Go for lunch at Mercado Central and get pupusas at Rincón Salvadoreño and apple turnovers from ground-floor bakery Panaderia El Mexicana; pick up a pressure cooker that’ll likely knock the socks off your Instant Pot. For sweets: My favorites are rice pudding-filled doughnuts from Panaderia San Miguel; conchas and apricot-glazed hilos from Papá Chuy’s; halwo and vanilla cake from Albi Kitchen (also the sambusas here are great); malawax (sweet crepes) from Karmel Mall (yes, Hamdi is excellent, but if you wander around the ground floor you’ll find a number of other stalls selling their own equally delicious versions). For dinner: salmon and spaghetti at Mama Safia’s; smoky pozole from Habanero Tacos Street on Lake Street; Homi Restaurant’s entire caldos menu over in St. Paul; 18-inch, pastor-filled machetes from Taco Libre; fried tilapia and pilaf rice at Wiilo Restaurant & Bakery in Karmel Mall; pork belly gorditas at El Taco Torro in Midtown Global Market. For tacos: True Jalisco-style quesabirria at Taco Taxi; tacos de canasta at Las Charolas on the ground floor of Plaza Mexico and barbacoa de chivo at El Chivo Crazy just upstairs; tacos al pastor at Taqueria La Hacienda. If you’re feeding a crowd, Tacos El Primo does amazing catering-sized meals. I also received an email from a reader who wanted to spread some love to excellent Rice Street restaurants over in St. Paul: Tromperia el Zac, Mini Super La Chiquis, and The Perfect Coffee.
A key note, though. As you’re visiting and eating, please don’t take photos—given the very scary and inflammatory nature of the moment, doing so could potentially make staff or customers feel unsafe.
Restaurant Closures and Support Funds
Unfortunately, ICE’s presence throughout the metro has caused a number of restaurants and businesses to temporarily close to prioritize the safety and well-being of their employees. Because things are changing so fast, we’re no longer listing those that are closing for a couple of days at a time or have changed their hours—there’s simply too much to keep track of. Check your favorite spot’s socials before you head out for a meal or a cup of coffee.
Most of the below restaurants, though, are closed until further notice—the best way to support these places is to show up and eat there as soon as they reopen. I also threw in some fundraisers for those that are open but struggling.
Valerie’s Carniceria and Alborada Market are now open after closing for several days, go shop there!
La Loma Tamales has reopened at Mercado Central, while its 38th Street location remains closed.
Don Pablo’s in Detroit Lakes is back open after a 22-day closure.
Machete Cocina Mexicana is back open after being closed for a while; you can support their employee relief fund here.
Salsa a la Salsa in Midtown Global Market is back open!
Some Los Ocampo locations around the metro are reopen, though some only for to-go service; find further details via their Instagram. You can support by buying merch and gift cards from their website and donating to their staff relief fund.
Nachos Mexican Grill is back open!
After closing for a while, Casa Ibérica in Inver Grove Heights is reopen, go eat!
Homi Restaurant in St. Paul is open but doing takeout only.
Not a restaurant, but Uptown Balloons is struggling, help them out here!
La Michoacana Monarca in St. Paul is back open again.
Vive Tropico in Minneapolis is back open with reduced hours for the time being.
Both the Hopkins and Savage locations of Casa Deli are closed until further notice.
El Sazon Tacos & More in Eagan is closed until further notice.
Grande Sunrise Restaurant in St. Paul is closed until further notice (keep an eye on Facebook for details on how to support their employees).
Don Papi Chulo’s in Inver Grove Heights is closed until further notice. You can donate to support them here.
The Shawarma Co. food truck is closed until further notice.
Xelas by El Sazon in Stillwater is closed until further notice after one of their employees was stopped (and then released) by ICE; you can support their staff relief fund here.
Don Julio in White Bear Lake is closed until further notice.
Pajarito St. Paul location is closed until further notice, the Edina location remains open.
Pizzeria Lola’s food truck at Indeed Brewing is closed until further notice.
El Rodeo in Maple Grove is closed until further notice. You can support staff who are temporarily unable to work.
Doña Mary Restaurante in Columbia Heights is closed until further notice; you can support them here.
TequeArepa in Eden Prairie is closed until further notice; you can support them here.
Volstead’s Emporium is navigating significant ICE activity in its neighborhood and trying to recover from recent closures; you can support them here.
You can support North Star Deli, which has had to drastically cut its hours, here.
La Morelense in Como Park is temporarily closed, you can support them here.
You can support Del Sol Floreria here.
Burritos El Patron hasn’t closed but really needs support due to a slowdown in business; you can support them here.
You can donate here to help keep Puerto Veracruzano’s doors open.
Tender Lovin’ Chix is also in need of support during this time.
You can donate to south Minneapolis restaurant Hola Arepa to help with groceries and necessities for their team, plus extra support for the staff during closures.
Restaurant Fundraisers and Specials
At Picnic Linden Hills, you can buy a hot meal for someone who needs it right now: teachers, community organizers, rapid responders, families in need. You buy the meal, the restaurant cooks it, volunteers deliver it. Here’s how to nominate someone for a meal, and here’s how to volunteer to deliver.
Modern Times Cafe is now now “Post-Modern Times”—for the remainder of the federal occupation of Minneapolis, is operating as a free and donation-based restaurant. You can read more here.
Wrecktangle’s pizza fundraiser is over, but kudos to the team for distributing 600 (!!!) frozen pizzas, plus non-perishables and toiletries, to families in need. And also pulling off a massive food drive.
There’s never been a better time to order a cold brew (no ice) from Workhorse Coffee Bar. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Mercado Central’s fundraiser.
Sweet Lou’s Meats is using $5 gift cards to fundraise for MIRAC’s current food card drive.
Meteor Bar is running a daquiri special to support Immigrant Law Center and Immigrant Defense Network.
As of January 9, 10 percent of all sales at Mothership Pizza Paradise will go toward a fund supporting restaurant staff, and the restaurant has created a Venmo account where you can donate directly toward staff who are unable to work right now due to ICE’s presence in their neighborhood.
All you have to do is order a horchata and say “Abolish Ice” at Lito’s Burritos on Lake Street and the full sales will go toward Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee and other mutual aid efforts. Lito’s is also running a brisket burrito fundraiser to support local mutual aid funds plus Sanchez Towing and Leo’s Towing, which have been doing abandoned vehicle recovery, on February 11.
Mario’s is serving thin butter crust pizzas at a lower cost to support folks through hard times.
Five dollars from every purchase of Al’s Breakfasts’ “Pretti Good” French toast will be donated to local mutual aid organizations.
In south Minneapolis, Tenant has switched from its typical dining format and is now operating as a “Soup Kitchen”—find more details here.
Order your cocktail with “No Ice” (though tbh you can probably still have ice if you want it) at EaTo and $2 from each purchase will support their employee support fund.
Nighthawks is relaunching brunch service on Saturdays and Sundays and lifting up Twin Cities Food Justice—you can bring in physical items to donate, but cash is what’s most needed right now, and a cash donation during brunch gets you a free mimosa.
Angry Line Cook is doing pay-what-you-can sambusas—100 percent of money raised goes toward rent relief for families impacted by ICE activity.
Get your orders in for Francis Burger Joint’s new “Bleeding Hearts” merch! 100 percent of the proceeds will go to Colectiva Bilingüe’s shared rent relief fund.
If you order the “Freedom Fighter” pizza at Farina Rossa’s new Central Avenue location, all profits will go to Unidos MN.
Sip a black sesame Earl Grey latte at Dahlia; donations will go to Pillsbury Elementary PTA to support Northeast neighbors in need of rent and housing assistance.
Lynette is hosting a mutual aid fundraiser, which involves both burgers and screenprinting, on February 9 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Purpose Restaurants is serving a free family meal, no questions asked, at 105 N. 1st Street on February 9 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
From February 10 to February 15, $2 for every boba drink purchased at L2 by Tii Cup’s special Valentine’s Day menu will support the Immigrant Law Center.
Backstory Coffee is hosting a maker’s market in support of MIRAC on February 14.
Catch Front Porch Pies popping up at Bench Pressed on February 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 50 percent of sales will directly support a family impacted by ICE operations in the Twin Cities.
Small Hours and a collective of local chefs are hosting a bake sale benefiting Immigrant Law Center of MN and Monarca on February 15.
Dining and Cooking