Newsmakers: Amid ICE Raids, CAPI CEO Says Immigrants Are ‘Living in Fear’
As Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues its crackdown in the Twin Cities, the head of a Brooklyn Center-based nonprofit says much of the local immigrant and refugee population is “living in fear.”
“It has been a very heavy time,” said Mary Niedermeyer, CEO of Communities Advancing Prosperity for Immigrants (CAPI). “So many of the individuals that we serve are here legally. So many people in the community at-large are here legally. But they still are living in fear because we have seen that the different federal raids that are happening are not just targeting non-citizens that have criminal records as kind of seen in the news. But it really has been targeting all immigrants.”
ICE says its agents have made more than 400 arrests in the Twin Cities as part of its so-called Operation Metro Surge.
Parts of the northwest Minneapolis suburbs have significant immigrant populations.
For instance, more than 20 percent of Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center’s residents are foreign-born.
CAPI USA has two locations, one in Brooklyn Center and one in Minneapolis.
With some families afraid to leave their homes, CAPI’s food shelf has began a direct delivery program for clients.
The organization is also working to connect families with the resources they need.
“[We’re] just providing information about their rights, and ways that they can proactively protect themselves and their families,” Niedermeyer said.
Niedermeyer said continued ICE raids are taking a toll on the mental health of many immigrants. She said impacted families should try to tune out negative messages.
“There are so many people out there that believe that immigrants and refugees make our state, our city, our country, a better place, a more vibrant place to live,” Niedermeyer said. “I would say that they belong here.”
See also: CAPI Breaks Ground on New Immigrant Opportunity Center
