“How do I help?”

We’ve had so many people reach out asking how they can help right now. We are deeply grateful for all of the care and solidarity.

One important reminder: the most effective help happens when we support the organizers and organizations that have already been doing this work. They have the experience, relationships, and infrastructure. We want to help point folks to where their energy can truly make a difference.

Build Relationships with Your Neighbors

Developing real connections with neighbors strengthens community, reduces isolation, and makes it easier to share support when it’s needed. People who know and trust one another are better positioned to look out for each other.

• Host casual meet-ups

• Share information about local resources in multiple languages

• Create phone trees or neighborhood WhatsApp/Signal groups for check-ins and alerts

Educate Your Community

Lack of accurate information fuels fear and confusion. Sharing clear, practical knowledge empowers people to act in their own interest. Make sure you are partnering with legal aid groups to ensure your info is reliable and updated.

• “Know Your Rights” trainings and materials in multiple languages.

• Print and share information with your neighbors

• Help neighbors create emergency plans (trusted contacts, childcare backups, medication lists)

Form or Join Mutual Aid Networks

Mutual aid is not charity; it’s reciprocal care. Mutual aid is about neighbors supporting one another directly, especially when systems fail us.

Examples of mutual aid support:

• Providing meals or groceries to families impacted by detention, raids or fear.

• Offering childcare

• Carpooling to medical appointments, school, work, court dates, etc.

• Sharing funds for bail, fines, legal fees, rent, food, supplies, etc.

Support “Know Your Rights” Rapid Response Teams

Communities across the country have organized rapid response legal observers when ICE is present in a neighborhood. Coordination with legal professionals ensures safety and accuracy.

• Join a training to become a legal observer to document activities

• Staff hotlines that folks can call during an enforcement action

• Help with logistics (transportation, translation, legal referrals)

Advocate for Policy Change

Systemic change requires collective pressure on institutions. You can organize phone banks, letter-writing parties, or petition drives.

• Contact local elected officials and demand limits on local cooperation with ICE.

• Support “sanctuary city” policies or ordinances restricting city-level ICE collaboration.

• Attend city council meetings and share community testimony

Use Your Voice in Public Spaces

Normalizing support for immigrants helps shift public perception. Shaping the narrative matters.

• Share stories of immigrant contributions and resilience

• Write op-eds or letters to editors

• Use social media thoughtfully: uplift facts, not fear

Support Local Organizations Doing the Work

Even if you’re not ready or able to volunteer, giving money, time, or visibility to groups already engaged in immigrant defense is powerful. Communities are strongest when resources flow toward those doing frontline work:

COPAL MN: COPAL, Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina, is a member-based organization established in 2018 to improve the quality of life of Latine families. Over the past seven years, COPAL has evolved to become a well-known, grassroots power-building, and visionary transnational organization.

IMMIGRANT DEFENSE PROJECT: The Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) was founded almost 30 years ago to combat an emerging human rights crisis: the targeting of immigrants for mass imprisonment and deportation.

IMMIGRANT LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA: The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) is a nonprofit organization that provides free immigration legal representation to low-income immigrants and refugees in Minnesota and North Dakota. ILCM also works to educate the community about immigration matters and advocates for public policies which respect the universal human rights of immigrants.

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MINNESOTA: “Founded in 1919, the International Institute of Minnesota offers New Americans quality services that support their journey to stability and success. Our comprehensive offerings include refugee resettlement, English education, workforce and leadership development, college preparation and immigration and citizenship assistance. We are a diverse team of knowledgeable and encouraging advocates, ready to welcome refugees and immigrants. The Institute helps New Americans rebuild their lives while pursuing their personal and professional goals.”

MIRAC: MIRAC is an all-volunteer, grassroots, multiracial, and multinational immigrant rights mass-movement organization. MIRAC fights for legalization for all, an end to immigration raids and deportations, an end to all anti-immigrant laws, and full equality in all areas of life.

MONARCA: Monarca is a Minnesota-based immigrant rights group that organizes rapid-response infrastructure, “know your rights” trainings, and legal observer programs to accompany community members during immigration enforcement actions.

THE ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: The Advocates for Human Rights implements international human rights standards to promote civil society and reinforce the rule of law.  

UNIDOS MN: “Unidos MN is a grassroots organization that builds power with Minnesota's working families to advance social, racial, and economic justice for all. Born from the strength of the DREAMER movement, we place immigration, education, and climate justice at the heart of our work. As an intersectional and intergenerational organization led by women and multiracial communities, we unite people from all backgrounds to fight for a future where everyone can thrive — no exceptions.”

Support Local Business Affected

Immigration enforcement impacts people at work, not just at home. Workplaces can be sites of protection or harm.

• Share workplace “Know Your Rights” materials

• Support workers facing retaliation or wage theft related to immigration status

• Coordinate with labor and worker-justice organizations

Know Your Rights:

There are certain rights guaranteed to all people in the United States, regardless of immigration status.

• You have the right to remain silent. If you wish to exercise that right, say so out loud.

• You have the right to refuse to consent to a search of yourself, your car or your home.

• Regardless of your citizenship status, you have constitutional rights.

• You have the right to a lawyer if you are arrested. Ask for one immediately.

• You have the right to record police actions as long as you do not interfere with their activities and are not breaking any other law.

When documenting, practice including information using S.A.L.U.T.E.:

• S – Size: How many people and/or vehicles are present?

• A – Activity: What specifically are they doing?

• L – Location: Address, nearby cross streets, or landmarks

• U – Uniform: What are they wearing or what identification do they have?

• T – Time: Date and time observed

• E – Equipment: What weapons or devices are they carrying?

If you or someone you know is detained by ICE, call (651) 641-1011 within ILCM Detention Line hours (Mondays 2-4pm and Thursday 1-3pm) to obtain general information about Immigration Court proceedings, the Minnesota Detention Project, and the services the project provides. Special hours are announced on our intake hours webpage and on social media.

For protest arrestee legal support, contact National Lawyers Guild Minnesota at: (612) 444-2654. To locate someone who is arrested, you can check Hennepin and Ramsey County jail rosters on county websites. We recognize that members of our immigrant and refugee communities may protest. Please ensure that you are aware of your rights and know how to assert them. Your rights may be violated in any case. Have a safety plan for if you are detained. It is also critical that you receive sound criminal and/or immigration legal advice if you are arrested.

To report ICE misconduct and constitutional violations, visit Request Legal Assistance – ACLU MN.

Practice Community Care & Sustainability

Movements are strongest when people can show up for the long haul. Supporting emotional and physical well-being helps prevent burnout and harm.

• Create rest and care plans for volunteers (rotations, check-ins, clear off-ramps)

• Normalize saying no and respecting capacity

• Share mental health and trauma-informed resources, especially for those directly impacted

• Encourage collective care after enforcement actions or public actions

Move at the speed of trust.

Not every action needs to be immediate. The goal is coordinated, informed, and sustained support led by those most impacted and the organizations already doing the work.