
The Daily On the Front Line of Minnesota’s Fight With ICE
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Jan 21, 2026 Anna Foley, a producer for The Daily, brings frontline insights from Minneapolis, where she highlights community responses to ICE activities. Joined by Charles Homans from The New York Times, they discuss why Minneapolis became a battleground for immigration enforcement. Topics include a sex shop transforming into a mutual aid hub and the emergence of civilian patrols to protect vulnerable neighbors. The tragic death of Renee Good spurred collective action, illustrating how past events have shaped current resistance efforts against federal crackdowns.
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Disproportionate Visibility Raises Vulnerability
- Minneapolis is a small city where a large influx of federal agents makes nonwhite residents feel highly exposed.
- Charles Homans explains that visibility and scale amplify fear and disruption in daily life.
Sex Shop Becomes Aid Hub
- The Smitten Kitten sex shop turned into a mutual-aid hub distributing money and supplies to frightened neighbors.
- Staff describe hundreds to thousands of people coming for urgent help amid fears of ICE encounters.
Decentralized Aid Disrupts Enforcement
- Marginalized workers and community spaces radicalized local organizing and inspired other businesses to provide resources.
- The tactic of decentralizing aid makes it harder for ICE to track where people seek help.


