​ICE presence, arrests in western Minnesota

By Bryce Haugen

In the week since Renee Good was killed by an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, the state’s largest city, ICE officers have fanned out throughout Minnesota. ICE agents have been spotted in several smaller communities, including towns in Becker County and Otter Tail County in western Minnesota. So far, there have been only a handful of confirmed detentions in the region.

Witnesses reported that one person was arrested at the China Buffet Restaurant at 317 Frazee Street in Detroit Lakes on the morning of Jan. 12. The event was captured on eyewitness video and confirmed by the Detroit Lakes Tribune on the same day.

Elsewhere in Becker County, eyewitness accounts also place ICE agents in Frazee. According to unconfirmed social media reports and witnesses, agents are staged at three hotels in Detroit Lakes and intend to be there for a month.

Becker County Sheriff Todd Glander said his office has not received any information from ICE regarding operations within his jurisdiction. “We understand (ICE) are in the area performing their duties, but there have been no operational plans shared with my agency,” he wrote in an email to the High Plains Reader.

There have been at least two arrests in nearby Otter Tail County. At least one individual was taken into custody when ICE went door-to-door in Pelican Rapids on Jan. 11, according to the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. (An anonymous source told Forum columnist Mike McFeely the number of people arrested was three.)

Perham Focus and Lakeland News reported that an employee was taken into ICE custody at Shearer’s Foods in Perham on Jan. 13. Alexandria radio station KXRA and Lakeland News confirmed the presence of ICE agents in Fergus Falls, which is also located in Otter Tail County.

Lakeland News and KXRA added that ICE was spotted in Alexandria in Douglas County over the weekend. These outlets and the Park Rapids Enterprise reported that ICE agents were also in Park Rapids in Hubbard County on the morning of Jan. 13.

As of Thursday, Jan. 15, the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office has not responded to High Plains Reader’s voicemail messages. Likewise, the police chiefs of Perham, Detroit Lakes, Pelican Rapids and Frazee did not reply to voicemails and email queries. Additionally, ICE has so far ignored local requests for comment, which is an unusual practice for a law enforcement agency, since agency duties typically include carrying on a dialogue with the public through the media.

Fargo-Moorhead officials are preparing for ICE to engage in operations in the F-M metro, although those have yet to begin. Rapid response groups on the messaging app Signal are paying close attention and will spread the word about ICE activity as soon as it begins so the public can fully document their enforcement actions. The City of Moorhead and Moorhead Area Public Schools released statements in response to fear from the community about what is considered likely eventual ICE activity.

Moorhead is proud to be a “safe and welcoming place for all” and recognizes legitimate concerns from residents about ICE operation and the impact on the community, the city said in a statement. It was published on the city’s Facebook page on Jan. 14.

“At the same time, it’s important to understand the legal limits of municipal government,” the statement said. “The City of Moorhead and the Moorhead Police Department do not have the legal authority to enforce civil immigration laws. These activities are conducted by federal agencies, not by local law enforcement.”

The city, according to the statement, cannot block federal enforcement actions. But the statement added that “we will continue to connect with affected community leaders and organizations to offer support, listen to concerns and share accurate information and resources.”

Moorhead Area Public School Superintendent Brandon Lunak said it is a district priority to provide a high-quality and safe, welcoming environment for every student.

“As a part of our enrollment and registration process, we do not request or maintain information about the immigration status of our students and families,” Lunak wrote in a message shared through the district website on Jan. 12. “District protocol prohibits an outside agency from entering our schools without permission or a valid warrant or court order.”

He wrote that federal law limits the sharing of student records without written parental consent or a lawfully issued order. All students’ private records are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

“Our priority is to ensure that students feel safe, supported, and welcome in our schools so they can attend regularly, remain engaged and stay focused on learning and growth,” Lunak wrote. “Finally, I ask all of us to extend kindness and understanding to one another during this difficult time. Our strength as a school community comes from treating everyone with dignity and respect so that every child can learn, grow and thrive in our schools.”

Email Bryce Haugen at brycevincenthaugen@gmail.com. To confirm an ICE sighting in North Dakota or Minnesota or share how immigration enforcement efforts have affected you or someone you know, contact Alicia Underlee Nelson at alicia@hpr1.com.