The University of Minnesota’s Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social, also known as MALCS, hosted a panel discussion in Tate Hall on Thursday night called “Operation Metro Surge through a legislative lens” with Rep. Ilhan Omar, Minneapolis Council Member Robin Wonsley, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Rep. Cedrick Fraizer.
The panel was held due to the University community recovering from the aftermath of Operation Metro Surge, which officials said was officially over as of February.
The interviewer for the panel, Maya Bueso, a second-year student at the University who originally proposed the event, said the organization decided on hosting the four lawmakers because of their progressive policies in and around the Twin Cities.
Secretary of MALCS, Samantha Noemi Cortez, said she wanted to hear what local politicians were actively doing to recover from the ICE operation. This panel gave an opportunity for students to hear directly from the politicians making those decisions.
“We kind of just wanted to have an eye-to-eye level with our representatives to see what they were doing and how they were doing in their efforts amidst Operation Metro Surge,” Cortez said.
Many students lined up for the security check before the panel. The event began minutes later as Ellison walked into the lecture room.
“What actions have been taken at the local, state and federal levels to combat the illegality of this activity?” Bueso asked the four politicians. Wonsley answered first.
“We didn’t see our city officials really show up in a meaningful way to talk about how we did not protect our residents,” Wonsley said. “Then protect those who called that out and showed up to support their neighbors who were being attacked by federal agents.”
Ellison began his answer by stating that his office has sued the Trump administration 59 times.
“As up to date, I think we sued Trump maybe 59 times, but quite honestly, it doesn’t bring me any joy,” Ellison said. “I wish I didn’t have to do it.”
Ellison said Minnesotans have been attacked by the Trump administration, and it has impacted their daily lives.
“We are in the middle of a full-on onslaught from the federal government, which is something that is somewhat extraordinary and unique,” Ellison said. “I know that different pieces of this have tapped into different pieces of the American public.”
“What is being done in government to help people with things like rental assistance, helping small businesses, among many other things?” Bueso asked the panelists.
Omar said that, with the financial struggles many have faced following the aftermath of ICE operations, it is difficult to ask the government for assistance, since they were the ones to launch the operation.
“When you have this kind of economic challenge, it doesn’t come because of the hands of the federal government,” Omar said. “It’s hard for the federal government that has inflicted this pain. It’s like asking your abuser to help you out.
As the interviewer called on Fraizer to answer, he joked, saying that he would make his comments quick since the event provided pizza for the audience members at the end. He said that, with him being the co-chair of the Ways and Means committee in the Minnesota Legislature, he is searching for funds to provide to people affected by the operation.
“We’re looking everywhere we can for money that we can put towards these things that we know people need, especially our own vulnerable people,” Frazier said.
The panel ended with Ellison thanking the University community for coming to the panel and the No Kings protest on Saturday. He encouraged the community to organize more events related to this one.
“Let’s do a bunch more forums like this one between now and the election,” Ellison said. “Let’s make sure that everybody on campus shows up.”
