Susie Hayward on What’s Happening in Minneapolis

Despite the terror and awfulness of ICE’s Operation Metro Surge, “there is beauty in how the community is responding to care for each other,” writes Minneapolis resident Susie Hayward. This response “is the immanent presence of God, Emmanuel, also known as Love.” It’s a fitting observation, given this season of Advent.

Hey, Beloveds . . . I want to offer a glimpse what we’re experiencing in Minneapolis for those outside, because I honestly have no idea how much is being reported.

What the federal government is calling “Operation Metro Surge” began about a week ago, inaugurated with multiple racist, dehumanizing remarks by President Trump about Minnesotans (calling Somali Minnesotans “garbage,” for example). We then saw a big influx of out-of-state ICE agents arrive on our streets. They drive in unmarked cars throughout the city and into the suburbs beginning at about 6:30am every day until well after dark, detaining our neighbors.

Some of those detained include citizens, targeted because they appear to be Somali or Latinx. One man was detained from his minivan, his two small children left behind alone, crying. One student was detained at Augsburg, and the staff and fellow students demanding to see a judicial warrant had guns pulled on them. The ICE agents did not produce a judicial warrant but took the student anyway. One white woman serving as a legal observer was detained for five hours by ICE, her wedding ring cut off.

I see video footage throughout the day of ICE agents violating traffic laws (especially dangerous on our current snowy streets where coming to a quick stop is hard), berating legal observers or those seeking to protect their neighbors (including derogatory remarks to women about their bodies or obnoxious promises to “dedicate my next arrest to you”), tackling Minnesotans in the snow, using tear gas on observers.

Two days ago, an ICE agent pointed a high-powered green laser pointer toward the cars of observers. There are multiple laws regulating the use of these laser pointers in the U.S. because they can cause retina damage. It’s clear these ICE agents are poorly trained.

Yesterday, Blackhawk helicopters joined the operation. Many of those disappeared by ICE here are not listed on their website of detainees. The majority of those arrested do not have criminal backgrounds. Minnesotans are feeling terrorized by our federal government.

Last night was the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Catholic churches with a high number of Latine members held celebrations throughout the night. Faith trumped fear. Non-Catholic Minnesotans patrolled outside the churches to protect those inside. Today, Friday, mosques will hold jummah prayers and non-Muslim Minneapolitans (some of whom aren’t themselves religious, but are sure displaying faithful action) have signed up to be a protective presence outside every mosque in the city. This too is religious freedom activism.

Local democracy is coming alive here. Neighborhoods have organized school patrols, meal deliveries, rides for immigrant neighbors. Local elected leaders are coordinating closely with residents. The city government is strengthening ordinances to ensure federal agents cannot use city parking lots to stage their operations. Workers at the airport where deportation flights operate and U.S. postal service workers are rallying in opposition to the use of their facilities to enable Operation Metro Surge. City police officers have shown up to protect community members from federal agents. Faith leaders are organizing spiritual support and care for the hundreds of people out on the streets all day long who are protecting neighbors and documenting illegal ICE actions, those who are making sure we know about every person taken to ensure nothing happens in the dark.

And then on Sundays, those of us who are practicing Christians go to church and we hear the Advent message about a holy light shining in darkness, the promise of God’s arrival even – especially – in a world full of suffering and chaos. This Sunday, the scripture will be Mary’s Magnificat, in which she sings praises for God’s ability to “cast down the mighty from their thrones.” May it be so.

So to put it simply: It is awful here, what is happening. We are tired, afraid, anxious, angry. And, there is beauty in how the community is responding to care for each other. This is the immanent presence of God, Emmanuel, also known as Love.

– Susie Hayward
via social media
December 12, 2025

Related Off-site Links:
What to Do and Not to Do When Monitoring ICE Agents and Immigration Actions in Minnesota – Cathy Wurzer, Gracie Stockton and Lukas Levin (MPR News, December 11, 2025).

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Photo of the Day – December 5, 2025
• Omar Fateh: Quote of the Day – December 4, 2025
• Jason Stanley on How Fascism Works
• James Greenberg on Trumpism: “The Tactics Are Unmistakable”
• “This Is What Fascism Looks Like”
• Marianne Williamson: Quote of the Day – June 20, 2025
• The Declaration of Resistance
• The Choice Before Us
• James Greenberg: “The Choices We Make Matter”
• Khalil Gibran Muhammad on Donald Trump’s Militarization of Law Enforcement
• Jason Duchin: “It’s Here, and We Are Sleepwalking Through It”
• Marianne Williamson: “We’re Moving Into Totalitarianism”
• Garrett Graff: “America Tips Into Fascism”
• James Greenberg on the Identity Politics of MAGA
• Jason Duchin: Quote of the Day – September 24, 2025
• Derek Johnson on the “Courage to Call Fascism by Its Name”
• An Incident That Feels “Ripped from a Dystopian Novel”
• James Greenberg: “I Am in Mourning for America”
• “If a Praying Minister Isn’t Safe, None of Us Are”
• James Greenberg on Trump’s “Larger Design” – the Construction of a Military Dictatorship
• Historian John Lestrange on the Meaning and Manifestations of Fascism, Past and Present
• Protesting Trump’s “Dystopian” Immigration Policies


Image: Artist unknown.