Minneapolis Trump voter now helps move immigrants' kids to safe houses to keep them away from his federal agents | Fortune

"Their mother, a 41-year-old Indigenous Ecuadorian office cleaner without a known criminal record besides minor traffic offenses, had been detained in early January because she entered the country illegally. Her eldest children feared they would be next, leaving behind their 5-month-old brother and six other children under 16 years old. "The immigration agents were knocking on our door very late at night, and that's when I became afraid," said the 20-year-old son, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear additional family members could face deportation."

"Martinez is one of the countless Twin Cities residents aiding immigrants like Melida Rita Wampash Tuntuam's family, prompted by word-of-mouth appeals for help - mostly ordinary people appalled by the aggressive tactics of federal agents who have broken down doors without warrants and violently clashed with protesters during the Trump administration's crackdown."

"As more than 2,000 federal agents scour Minneapolis-St. Paul for immigrants to detain and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reports more than 3,000 arrests since early December, residents have organized to monitor, disrupt and protest the crackdown in the streets and in less visible ways. These Minnesotans have paid rent for immigrant families whose breadwinners are afraid to go to work, delivered home-cooked meals and arranged for regular check-ins and emergency custody arrangements to make sure children are cared for in case their parents are detained."

The eldest son of a family of 10 relocated his younger siblings after federal immigration agents detained their mother, a 41-year-old Indigenous Ecuadorian who entered the country illegally. Neighbors and church friends in the Twin Cities organized safe housing, volunteer networks and aid for immigrants facing raids. More than 2,000 federal agents have been operating in Minneapolis–St. Paul while DHS reported over 3,000 arrests since early December. Community members monitor and protest enforcement, pay rent, deliver meals, coordinate check-ins and arrange emergency custody to care for children when parents are detained, and nonprofits have expanded food and support services.

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