Minneapolis united when federal immigration operations surged – reflecting a long tradition of mutual aid

Minnesotans from all walks of life, including suburban moms, veterans and protest novices, have bucked their ‘nice’ stereotype to speak out.

By: Daniel Cueto-Villalobos, University of Minnesota, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 26, 2026

Words: 1,428

Last Updated: 1 week, 6 days ago

By Daniel Cueto-Villalobos, University of Minnesota

I’ve been living in Minneapolis and working on my doctoral dissertation about local religious communities since 2019.

It’s given me a chance to personally witness how the COVID-19 pandemic, the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd by police officers, and the surge in federal law enforcement presence have fostered grassroots networks of what’s known broadly as “mutual aid.”

Simply put, mutual aid is when …

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