Testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Impact on Minnesotans and Economic Stability

To the Members of Senate Subcommittee on Federal Impact on Minnesotans and Economic Stability,

Equity in Place is a coalition of organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color organizing for racial justice in Minnesota’s housing system. From community-based and renter advocacy organizations to nonprofit housing providers, all of our member organizations are witnessing first hand the disastrous economic chain reaction from the federal occupation of our state. 

Minnesotans– whether citizens, refugees, or immigrants– are facing extreme risk when leaving their homes to get groceries, pay bills, or open their business. Tens of thousands of families are unable to get to work safely to earn money to make rent. Local businesses are closing and cultural corridors are empty. Public transit riders can’t get to work for fear of being abducted based on the color of their skin. Our children cannot safely access school or healthcare. 

Less than a week ago, our neighbor Alex Pretti was publicly executed by Border Patrol agents in front of one of our member organizations’ offices, in the heart of Nicollet’s Eat Street, a vibrant, immigrant-driven cultural and economic hub. Restaurants and local businesses up and down that cultural corridor have come together to provide medical aid, food, shelter, and space to mourn– because this is a cultural corridor with beloved anchor institutions who take care of our people. We need the state of Minnesota to step up and do the same. 

We’re a housing coalition. The ICE attack on our state is not directly a housing issue– but our communities know firsthand how issues intersect in their lives. So we are seeing the impacts of this occupation has disrupted all aspects of daily economic life, including being able to go to work and earn rent. As families speak out on the urgent need to shelter in place, we need an immediate eviction moratorium to keep families in their homes and evict ICE, not us. We also demand emergency rental assistance from local counties, and the state governments to prevent a tsunami of evictions of vulnerable residents with no place to go. 

All of this could end immediately if ICE leaves. Minnesotan immigrants are hard working, entrepreneurs, and drivers of our economy. We want to get back to work, stay in our homes, and continue to make Minnesota the unique and beautiful place it is. We must do everything in our power as a state to keep Minnesotans safe until this occupation ends. 

Thank you, 

Juan Luis Rivera-Reyes – Coalition Organizer at Alliance for Metropolitan Stability

Equity in Place Coalition Members:

African Career Education and Resource (ACER)

Alliance for Metropolitan Stability

Ain Dah Yung Center

Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, University of MN

Community Stabilization Project

COPAL

Harrison Neighborhood Association

HOME Line

Hope Community

Housing in Action

Housing Justice Center

Jewish Community Action

Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers

MN STEP (Standing Together to End Poverty)

Native American Community Development Institute

New American Development Center

Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association

Pueblos de Lucha y Esperanza MN

West Side Community Organization