responding to

ICE in MinNesota

This is no longer about immigration. This is about human rights and human dignity.

Most everyone can agree that our country's current immigration policies and practices aren't working, even if we don't agree on how they should be changed. The presence and actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and border patrol agents in our state, however, are negatively impacting individuals and communities daily. We are seeing videos of horrific encounters between federal agents and bystanders. We read stories of U.S. citizens being taken into custody as a result of racial profiling. We have neighbors who aren't leaving their homes. We've heard about children observing their parents forced into unmarked vehicles at bus stops and school pick-up lines; young people forcibly removed from their places of employment and a St. Paul man taken from his shower, forced into the Minnesota cold in just his underwear. We are no longer talking about immigration. Instead, we are experiencing a human rights crisis.

Jesus calls us to stand up to injustice and to help and support our neighbors.

The time is now.

“When a foreigner lives with you in your land, don’t take advantage of [them]. Treat the foreigner the same as a native. Love [them] like one of your own. Remember that you were once foreigners in Egypt. I am God, your God." - Leviticus 19:33-34

What can i do?

Pray and connect with your church family (worship, small groups, service opportunities). We need the strength, stories and hope we can offer one another!
Check in with your friends, neighbors, family members and co-workers. Find out what they need and offer support.
Donate and/or deliver food to people who feel unsafe leaving their homes (Food Without Fear, ICA).
Make a financial donation to a GoFundMe page designed to help families in need of support. If you need help identifying a family to support, please reach out to Pastor Carrie via email. She will be happy to share specific sites with you.
Get involved with advocacy groups like Isaiah and Indivisible, participate in a peaceful protest and/or attend a peaceful resistance training (Monarca, Isaiah).
Sign up for a Signal rapid response group. (And if you're not sure how to do this, Pastor Carrie can help you.)
Consider civic engagement - vote, run for local office, contact your legislators about your concerns, show up at community meetings/forums, plan to caucus on February 3rd and think about becoming a delegate.
Build resilience - consider hosting book discussions utilizing texts like Brian McLaren's Life After Doom or Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass.

Food Without Fear

Are You in Need of Assistance?

MUMC is currently partnering with Food Without Fear to see that people afraid to leave their homes receive the groceries they need. Groceries include fresh meat and produce, personal items and essential non-perishables (e.g., chicken, laundry detergent, toothpaste, lentils, onions, tomato sauce, bread, apples and more). If you would like to get on the recipient list, please let us know by contacting Pastor Carrie at: .