Copyright startribune
You claim ICE is targeting criminals, but fear doesn’t discriminate. When masked agents in unmarked vehicles show up at a roofing job in St. Paul, refuse to show ID, and take Latino workers away without explanation — that’s not law enforcement; it’s theater. These ICE raids are meant to destroy our children’s sense of safety, education and mental health. It’s the kind of thing that makes people keep their kids indoors. And here’s the thing. You came to a state that knows something about community. As someone who writes about culture and belonging, I know the real strength of Minnesota comes from its welcome mat, not its walls. Our communities thrive because we embrace dual languages and multicultural traditions. Minnesota’s history runs deep with people who fled war, colonization and persecution, then turned that pain into purpose. The Ojibwe and Dakota were here first. The Hmong came as refugees. Somali families rebuilt lives after decades of conflict. We are not perfect, but we have learned how to coexist through compassion, not control. Here’s the most important point: Immigrants and refugees don’t just add color and culture. We add capital. According to research by economist Bruce Corrie at Concordia University in St. Paul, African immigrants in Minnesota collectively earn at least $1.6 billion a year and spend about $800 million annually in the Twin Cities economy. Statewide, immigrants contribute more than $22 billion to Minnesota’s GDP. And in St. Paul alone, immigrant households hold nearly $1 billion in disposable income while making up more than a third of the city’s manufacturing workforce. In a study of Mexican Americans in Minnesota, Corrie estimated they had more than $4 billion in total income, giving them considerable buying power. This community contributes $23 million a month in rental payments across Minnesota, which amounts to a $276 million annual infusion into rental markets in greater Minnesota and the metro area. These are not marginal numbers; they’re proof that immigrants and refugees fuel Minnesota’s economy as entrepreneurs, taxpayers, homeowners and job creators. We don’t just add delicious new cuisines to Minnesota. We keep the lights on.
