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The happenings in Minnesota have been upsetting and frightening. The federal government seemingly believes that the U.S. Constitution only applies to citizens, preferably “white citizens.” Wrong.
Immigrants are protected by the U.S. Constitution, especially due process. Due process means the government must follow fair legal procedures before depriving someone of life, liberty or property.
The federal government, Homeland Security, law enforcement, ICE and Border Patrol agents are not excluded from obeying due process. Period.
The federal government deployed 3,000 masked ICE and Border Patrol agents to Minneapolis/St. Paul claiming fraud and immigration violations. The Minneapolis police force is approximately 600 officers.
Minnesota did not request federal intervention. The Tenth Amendment of the Constitution guarantees state sovereignty.
Masked and armed ICE and Border Control agents roamed neighborhoods and entered homes without appropriate warrants. They smashed car windows, pulled people from cars and circled schools, businesses, work sites and public spaces, terrifying and traumatizing residents and children.
The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution provides for the “right of the people to be secure in their persons, house, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, without probably cause.”
ICE and Border Control swept up people of color, immigrants (regardless of visa status), those with an accent or other perceived differences and detained them. Some were American citizens and children. Many disappeared from communities and were sent to detention centers in Minnesota and out of state without access to family or legal counsel.
They were denied due process. The Fifth Amendment of the Constitution guarantees due process.
Two citizens were gunned down in broad daylight for exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech and peacefully protest. First amendment rights include free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, of the press and the right of the people to peaceably assemble. They were killed being good Samaritans, trying to protect or warn neighbors.
The citizens of Minnesota realized that they were “We the People” and acted against the injustice witnessed in their communities, neighborhoods, streets and schools. Simultaneously it was a patriotic act and living their faith. The citizens of Minnesota took to the streets by ten of thousands demonstrating against injustice and prejudice toward communities of color regardless of citizen status.
Minnesotans are resilient people. In sub-zero weather they formed neighborhood watches armed only with whistles and car horns warning friends and neighbors of the invasion of masked, armed ICE agents in the area. They were Minnesotans seeking justice, loving mercy and walking humbly.
Churches and communities provided food for those afraid to leave home. Parents linked arms around schools protecting students and staff from ICE agents entering school property. Unrelated Moms and Grandmas drove children to school guaranteeing their safety. Neighbors loved others as they loved themselves by providing food for the hungry and care for the needy living out childhood lessons.
Faith communities joined together against injustice and prejudice. Priests, clergy, rabbis and Iman’s prayed together and were arrested together for peacefully demonstrating.
An Iowan Episcopalian priest wrote the following for her sermon February 25th, a day when Catholic and Protestant churches read the Beatitudes:
“Blessed are they who are monitoring and responding to neighbors calls for help across this nation right now, for they are giving us a glimpse of how the kingdom of God operates.
“Blessed are those who are showing up in tense and dangerous places and leading others in non-violent, prayerful and healing presence at protests and other spaces that manifest God’s love and care.
“Blessed are those who are scared to leave their homes and those who are delivering necessities like food and breast milk and medicine to them, for God shelters and weeps with them.
“Blessed are they who are demanding an end to policies that profess to be about ‘security’ at the expense of civil rights, human dignity and safety, for God stands with them.
“Blessed are those who bear the harms of generational and repeated trauma and yet continue to build and work for liberation for us all, for their longings will birth the dreams of God.”