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Residents of Saint Paul, Minnesota, are organizing community support systems in response to increased activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. A local café, The Roots Cafe, has become a hub for distributing information and essential goods to neighbors who are fearful of leaving their homes.

Community Response to ICE Operations

The Roots Cafe, located in Saint Paul, one of the Twin Cities alongside Minneapolis, is providing a safe space for community members concerned about ongoing federal operations carried out by ICE. The café displays signs reading “No Entry without Warrant” and offers resources in both English and Spanish on how to interact with federal agents.

Over the past week, the café has established a pantry to collect and distribute donations of sanitary products and household goods to residents who are afraid to venture out. A constant flow of people are dropping off supplies and repacking them for delivery.

George Cordero, who manages the donation drop, said the pantry was created after an ICE raid nearby resulted in his friends being teargassed. He noted a strong “eagerness to help” within the community, with the donation space quickly filling up after a request for supplies was made.

Cordero explained that delivering essentials allows residents to avoid unnecessary risks. He emphasized the visible mistrust and insecurity throughout the neighborhood and his commitment to ensuring no one is alone.

Cordero was accompanied by his mother at the pantry, having picked her up from work to ensure her safety. She expressed worry for her son, noting his age and protective nature, comparing him to Alex Pretti, who also advocates for others. Cordero described the Twin Cities as ordinarily peaceful, but now adapting to the presence of federal agents.

“We weren’t trained for this, but we are doing the best we can,” Cordero said.