One year ago, the Interfaith Coalition on Immigration (ICOM), began monthly action vigils at the Whipple Federal Building. For the past year, we have stood at Pharaoh’s front door to speak truth to power in solidarity with our immigrant sisters and brothers.
On May 22nd, several of our members put our bodies on the line and were arrested at an action organized by MIRAC and the Poor People’s Campaign. Together, we shut the building down and stopped ICE vans and other vehicles from entering or leaving the property, thereby preventing anyone from being deported.
Last month, ICOM held a rally where no rally has ever taken place before. We stood at the rear secure building entrance where immigrants are processed and we demanded that ICE stop separating families and stop caging children. Building officials came out and told us we were making the guards nervous. Yes, and?
ICE has one objective: to arrest, detain and deport as many immigrants as possible. Earlier today, a huge immigration raid was carried out in Minnesota and Nebraska, a raid that was planned and executed by ICE agents who are headquartered at the Whipple Federal Building.
We cannot stand by and simply watch this happen. Join us on Tuesday, August 14th at the Whipple Federal Building at 7:30am, as we demand:
- Abolish ICE!
- Keep families together!
- Legalization for all!
And if you can, join MIRAC at an emergency protest at 5pm Thursday, August 10th, at 2200 East Franklin.
We hope to see you at both important events.
Call to Action
- Help the final push for the Minneapolis Municipal ID. Thanks to the Sanctuary Now campaign, Minneapolis is on the verge of creating a Municipal ID card that would benefit immigrants, the homeless, and transgender individuals. Minneapolis residents should call or email Mayor Jacob Frey and their City Council members and demand that they support Municipal ID now. A campaign update with ways to get involved will take place on Saturday, August 25th from 10 am to 12 pm at Waite House (2323 11th Ave S, Minneapolis).
- Contact David L. Neal, Chairman of the Board of Immigration Appeals, and demand that the BIA issue Nelson Pinos a “stay of deportation.” Nelson is a 43-year-old Ecuadorian national who came to the U.S. in 1992. Nelson has no criminal history, he has 3 children ages 15, 12 and 5. Nelson is not a threat to anyone and deporting him would be devastating to his family. Mr. Neal can be reached by mail at U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001
- Support the 19th Annual Mendota Mdewakanton Pow-wow, September 7 – 9. ICOM has been asked to support this important traditional celebration by providing volunteers or by making personal donations. For details on volunteering for a wide variety of tasks and shifts, contact Deidre Druk at deidr…@aol.com. Send checks to MMDC at 1351 Sibley Memorial Hwy, P.O. Box 50835, Mendota, MN 55150. Please put “ICOM Pow-wow donation” in the subject line.
- Attend the Hennepin County Attorney / Sheriff / Commissioner Candidate Forum. 2 to 4:30 pm, Sunday, September 23 at New Creation Church (1922 N 25th Ave, Minneapolis). Organized by ISAIAH (but open to all), this event will ask the candidates questions about criminal justice reform and protecting immigrant rights.