Minnesota Neighbors

Not In Our Town’s film Minnesota Neighbors profiles the brave actions of Minnesota residents during ICE’s Operation Metro Surge. The film captures the beauty and strength of unity displayed by people from every walk of life who stepped into harsh winter streets at all hours to support their neighbors. Portraits include immigrants bravely speaking up, clergy, journalists, teachers, local officials, doctors, restaurateurs, unions, business owners and families who overcame their own fears to stand up for each other and for our freedoms as Americans.

Their stories provide guidance, hope and inspiration for communities everywhere.

Minnesota Neighbors

Donate to Support the Film

Upcoming Screenings

Minnesota Neighbors premieres in cities across the country during United Against Hate Week!

See all screenings

About The Film & Community Engagement Campaign

As ICE operations spread fear and danger in the Twin Cities, Minnesotans show the power of kindness, courage and community-wide peaceful actions as they unite with immigrant neighbors.

Millions of people watched the escalating level of racial profiling and violence in Minnesota this winter with the brutal execution of ICE’s Operation Metro Surge. In the aftermath of two killings of U.S. citizens by federal agents, tens of thousands of Minnesotans used their voices, presence, and know-how to stand in compassion with those who were harmed, and affirm their commitment to democracy and the rule of law. Most remarkably, this massive force of “neighboring” led to the current end of ICE’s brutal tactics and mass detentions in the region.

Minnesota Neighbors focuses on stories of residents who were motivated to “do something” in the face of a dire threat to their community. The lessons from these moments are portrayed by a chorus of characters who show what is at stake and also what is possible when a community unites for mutual aid.

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Not In Our Town is presenting the film for use in schools and civic spaces for years to come as an example of the power of community. In partnership with immigrant advocacy networks, faith groups, civic organizations, civil rights and civil liberties groups, educators, and public media stations, the national community engagement campaign will help local communities increase their capacity to stand with and protect each other in the face of emerging threats.

Sign up now to bring Minnesota Neighbors to your community!

Major Supporters

Lisa and Alexandra Jacobs

Arjun and Diana Divecha

Kevin J Berwin
Mary Ford
Impact Assets, Inc,
Felix Kramer and Rochelle Lefkowitz

Jean M Driscoll
Harrison and Molly Fraker
Thomas R Miller
William and Melinda Evers

Take Action — Resources for Communities

Following are resources that can help your community unite and stand together to promote safety and belonging – and respond when neighbors are threatened.

Welcoming Neighbors

Standing Up for Welcoming: Four practical actions for local leaders

Welcoming America outlines practical actions local leaders can take to help counter fear and division, respond to attacks against immigrants in the community, and build the infrastructure to support and engage immigrant and non-immigrant residents in the long-term.

Know Your Rights

ACLU

An overview of rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution, regardless of immigration status, including different scenarios.

iAmerica

Guidance for “What to do if…”, a downloadable Know Your Rights Card, and shareable infographics.

Red Cards

Immigrant Legal Resource Center’s “red cards” give examples of how all people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, can exercise rights and protections provided under the U.S. Constitution.

Legal Observer Training

Monarca Legal Observer Training (Minnesota)

Featured in the film, the Monarca Response Network trained over 50,000 everyday Minnesotans as neighborhood observers to help protect people’s rights during ICE interactions.

National Lawyers Guild

Many NLG chapters partner with local community groups to present Legal Observer Trainings. Check for your local chapter.

Rapid Response & Mutual Aid Networks

Habeas Project

The National Immigration Project’s Habeas Project works with local partners in priority regions to help unlawfully detained noncitizens connect with pro bono legal representation to seek release through habeas corpus petitions.

Preparation & Rapid Response Resources for Immigrants and Community Allies

Welcoming America maintains this extensive compilation of links to information and resources to aid in preparing individuals, families, and communities for rapid response and longer-term preparation for shifts and challenges in the United States. Resources include legal services, guidance for schools and universities, health and wellness care, advice for creating a family immigration raid emergency…

Defend the 612 (Minneapolis)

In response to ICE’s Operation Metro Surge, volunteers created Defend the 612 to help community members and neighbors get connected to one another. Hundreds of thousands of residents across dozens of neighborhoods and cities mounted hyper-local decentralized community defense structures and actions to keep each other informed about ICE activity in real-time and quickly come…

Examples of other regional networks include:

Media

American Occupation: Dispatches from Minnesota’s Resistance to ICE

American Occupation: Dispatches from Minnesota’s Resistance to ICE is a collection of intimate writings first published by Literary Hub in the Letters From Minnesota series that recounts the lived community experience of facing and resisting ICE violence during Operation Metro Surge.

“What we are experiencing on the streets is so egregious and so different than anything we’ve seen before that what we need right now is not just witness, but courageous people to come and bring that spirit and bring that momentum to our streets.”

-Neighbor