December 15, 2025

Minneapolis City Council Members Ask Community Members to Shop at Immigrant-Owned Businesses Amid Federal Immigration Enforcement

This holiday season, we ask you to take action. Shop at immigrant-owned businesses in Minneapolis: buy groceries, share a meal, purchase gifts, and spend time in our vibrant commercial corridors.

Your presence matters. Your support matters. We can help our immigrant neighbors and keep our communities strong during this difficult time. 

With the increase in federal immigration enforcement actions in our community, we are seeing unspeakably traumatic and life-changing events; families are being torn apart, neighbors are being disappeared, and communities are being left to pick up the pieces.   

Our office has been on the ground in our wards talking with residents and community members, working to connect impacted families with resources. One of the things we hear repeatedly is that our local businesses are facing a significant strain and chilling effect from the ongoing federal immigration enforcement operations. Our local immigrant-owned businesses are dealing with employees and coworkers in fear of being abducted, and their main clientele is so scared to leave their homes. Some local immigrant-owned businesses have seen upwards of an 80% decrease in customers.  

Together, we can stand up for our immigrant neighbors, and with your support, we can show our local immigrant-owned businesses that we know they make our city great. The diversity of our commercial corridors is the fabric of who we are as a city; they make Minneapolis vibrant and welcoming. We are resilient and rich in culture, art, and shared community because of them. 

As we approach this holiday season, time off from work and school, visits from family and friends, and just some time to relax, please join us in supporting our immigrant neighbors. You can do so by shopping at the many wonderful immigrant-owned businesses in Minneapolis. We have grocery stores, restaurants, gift shops, and more along these corridors that are a perfect place for us to spend time as we gather with loved ones and neighbors. This is one impactful way we can support each other during these hard times.   

Signed by proud Immigrant and children of immigrant council members, 

Aisha Chughtai – Minneapolis Council Vice-President  

Jason Chavez – Minneapolis Ward 9 Council Member 

Aurin Chowdhury – Minneapolis Ward 12 Council Member  

Jamal Osman – Minneapolis Ward 6 Council Member 

Increased Immigration Enforcement in South Minneapolis

Dear neighbor, 

I know you are heartbroken to see so many of our neighbors being kidnapped by ICE across the city and here in Ward 9. What is happening to our East African, Latino, and immigrant communities is disheartening. 

I also want to give a heads up that we are seeing increased immigration enforcement impacting and targeting Latino families in our neighborhoods, South Minneapolis, Phillips, Powderhorn, and Lake Street. This information is important given the severe impact it could have on your neighbor next door. 

We need your help to create safety plan for those who are vulnerable to deportation. Unfortunately,  ICE has been very busy today. Hardworking people people that simply need to work or who were with their children were targeted today. We need extra help on the ground watching to keep community safe. Drop off groceries for your neighbors, drive them to work if needed, help take their children to school, and be safe. This is in addition to our immigrant neighbors being racially profiled on the streets and while driving. 

I also see a need to speak out on what I witnessed on 29th and Pillsbury Ave South today when Federal Agents kidnapped our neighbors. They busted the car windows of those who they kidnapped and chemical irritants were even used on observers by these federal agents. This behavior was disgusting.

I was also sad to see that the Minneapolis Police Department showed up on scene, created a pathway for these federal agents to kidnap our neighbors, and assisted with controlling the space. This was disappointing and heartbreaking. 

I am demanding answers, accountability, and behavior change. 

Sincerely,

Jason Chavez

Contact the Ward 9 Office

Email: jason.chavez@minneapolismn.gov
Phone: 612-673-2209

City Hall
350 S. Fifth St., Room 370
Minneapolis, MN 55415

For reasonable accommodations or alternative format please contact 311. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users call 612-263-6850. Para ayuda, llame al 311. Rau kev pab, hu 311. Hadii aad caawimaad u baahantahay, wac 311.