In the heart of Minnesota’s Twin Cities region, where communities grapple with the ripple effects of intensified federal immigration enforcement, St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed has emerged as a vocal advocate for vulnerable residents.
In a poignant social media video that quickly gained traction, the Somali-born mayor drew from her own family’s experiences to urge support for an eviction moratorium and rental assistance programs.
Her message, delivered against the backdrop of escalating fears surrounding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, highlights the human toll of recent policy shifts, calling on neighbors to “step up” and protect those too afraid to venture outside their homes.
The video, posted amid a surge in ICE activities dubbed Operation Metro Surge, captures Mayor Mohamed introducing her mother and illustrating the paralyzing anxiety gripping many in her community. “This is how bad things are getting here in Minnesota,” she begins, gesturing to her mother with a warm “Say hi, hooyo.”
She explains that, like countless Minnesotans—regardless of documentation status—her mother refuses to leave the house out of dread for what might transpire.
“I can literally glue her passport to her forehead and she still will not go unless I am taking her from point A to point B,” Mohamed shares, emphasizing the depth of this apprehension.
This fear, she notes, extends beyond her family, preventing people from going to work and earning the income needed to cover rent as monthly due dates loom.
Mohamed’s plea underscores a privilege not everyone shares: her mother can rely on family support to weather financial strains, but many neighbors lack such safety nets. “A lot of neighbors do not have that same privilege,” she stresses, imploring viewers to rally for protective measures.
Central to her call is an eviction moratorium, which would halt the legal eviction process, providing breathing room for those impacted.
She also highlights St. Louis Park’s existing 30-day pre-eviction notice requirement, mandating landlords to give tenants advance warning before initiating proceedings—a policy she encourages other cities to adopt or verify.
Finally, Mohamed directs attention to local organizations offering rental aid, specifically praising the St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP) for its work in financial and mental health support.
“If you live in St. Louis Park, consider donating to them,” she urges, concluding with a unifying message: “We got each other. Please look out for each other and take care of each other.”
This advocacy comes at a critical juncture, as Minnesota faces one of the most aggressive immigration enforcement campaigns in recent history.
Launched in late 2025 by the Trump administration, Operation Metro Surge has deployed thousands of ICE and Border Patrol agents to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, targeting what officials describe as “dangerous criminal illegal aliens.”
By mid-January 2026, the operation had resulted in over 3,000 arrests, focusing on individuals with prior convictions or deportation orders.
However, the broad sweep has ignited widespread alarm, with reports of armed agents conducting raids in residential neighborhoods, workplaces, and public spaces.
This escalation has not only heightened tensions but also led to tragic incidents, including a fatal shooting of a local nurse during an encounter with federal agents, sparking protests and deepening community divisions.
The fear Mohamed describes is palpable across the state, particularly in diverse communities with large immigrant populations.
Somali-Americans, like the mayor herself—who fled Somalia as a child and became the first Somali-American, Muslim, and Black woman elected mayor in the U.S. in 2023—have been especially vocal about the disruptions.
In a separate video addressing ICE’s presence, Mohamed reassured residents that the St. Louis Park Police Department does not enforce immigration laws, adhering to a longstanding policy of non-cooperation with federal deportation efforts.
This stance aligns with broader sanctuary-like policies in the Twin Cities, where local leaders prioritize community trust over entanglement in immigration matters.
Echoing Mohamed’s concerns, the Minneapolis City Council has formally requested Governor Tim Walz to declare a statewide eviction moratorium, arguing that the ICE surge exacerbates an existing housing crisis.
Community advocates warn that the combination of enforcement fears and economic fallout—such as lost wages from avoided work—could lead to a wave of homelessness.
“We cannot survive adding a housing crisis onto everything we are already carrying,” one Minneapolis organizer stated during a recent press conference.
In response, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, alongside the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, filed a lawsuit in January 2026 seeking to halt the operation, citing overreach by federal agents and violations of state sovereignty.
At the local level, organizations like STEP play a pivotal role in mitigating these challenges.
Founded to assist St. Louis Park residents facing emergencies, STEP offers crisis-based rental assistance on a case-by-case basis, helping those at risk of eviction due to unforeseen hardships.
The program also extends support for utilities, transportation, and even mental health services, recognizing the intertwined nature of financial and emotional strains.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, similar moratoriums proved effective in preventing mass displacements, and advocates argue that reinstating such measures now could stabilize communities amid the current turmoil.
Donations to STEP, as Mohamed suggests, directly fund these efforts, with the organization reporting increased demand since the ICE surge began.
Yet, Mohamed’s initiative has not been without controversy. Critics, particularly from conservative circles, contend that calls for moratoriums and aid effectively shield undocumented immigrants from accountability, potentially incentivizing illegal residency.
Sources like The Gateway Pundit have framed her video as a “desperate plea” to “protect illegal aliens,” arguing that taxpayer-funded protections undermine immigration laws and burden legal residents.
Some social media commentators have gone further, accusing local leaders of prioritizing non-citizens over American taxpayers, especially in a state already navigating budget constraints for housing programs.
Proponents of the surge, including federal officials, maintain that the operation targets only high-risk individuals, with over 540,000 deportations nationwide since early 2025, and dismiss fears as exaggerated.
Despite the polarized views, the underlying issues—immigration enforcement, housing affordability, and community resilience—remain pressing for Minnesota.
With eviction rates historically lower in St. Louis Park compared to neighboring areas, policies like the 30-day notice have already demonstrated value in fostering dialogue between landlords and tenants.
As federal judges review challenges to Operation Metro Surge, including arguments for its termination, the state stands at a crossroads.
Mayor Mohamed’s message, rooted in empathy and action, serves as a reminder of the personal stories behind policy debates, urging a collective response to safeguard the fabric of diverse communities in uncertain times.
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