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Mutual Aid list: updated February 7, 2026

Similar to what we did during the pandemic, this living document will list options for mutual aid and other ways to care for our communities. For example, many members of immigrant communities are staying home — and avoiding ethnic food stores and restaurants for fear of being targeted by ICE agents — and others are packing food boxes and making deliveries.

Call the Monarca Rapid Response hotline to report ICE activity: 612-441-2881

If you are part of an observation, write 612-444-2654 on your arm in case you need National Lawyers Guild MN support

Use 5 Calls to make a political impact

As Monarca’s trainings indicate, there are many ways to participate in community support that go beyond observing and protesting. Pick a role that fits you, or change it up — and remember to rest as well.

This is a very good resource of best-practice community response options.

And this is a great list of vetted options to support families in various neighborhoods, which have come through immigrant-oriented nonprofits.

ADDED Because ICE is letting people out of the detention center sometimes in t-shirts, with no phones, in freezing weather, Haven Watch is on call to help… and need more volunteers.

Some of the mutual aid options in more depth and color, such as the outpouring of original whistle brigade action work.

How to Help Immigrant Communities and Business Owners

In December, we asked Milissa Silva, of El Mercado Burrito, to expand on a social post she created asking for community support as businesses like hers pivot their business models to survive. Her calls to action:
  • Make a personal and public pledge to shop local and eat at independent immigrant-owned restaurants as much as possible. January and February are always really difficult months for all businesses, especially restaurants. Every purchase helps.
  • Several ethnic-food–focused supermarkets are now offering delivery mostly with no fees, including El Burrito Mercado. We are offering curbside pick up or delivery within six miles of our business.

A Neighborhood Development Center compilation included these options:

In a social media post, we learned that the DHH Church, one of the largest Christian congregations in southern Minneapolis, has more than 1,000 community members mobilized through What’s App to be part of neighborhood watch work to identify when people claiming to be federal agents are attempting to take people from their communities. The group is organizing food mutual aid to households that are staying inside to be safe.

  • Pack food for families in crisis
  • Deliver food
  • Donate to help purchase food for those not able to access community food shelves
  • Local organizers and elected officials have launched Defend612, which helps people sign up to get involved in hyperlocal support networks, from rides and grocery runs, to volunteer ICE-watch shifts in your neighborhood.

ICOM AID is coordinating the donation of gift cards for Cub Foods or Aldi via aid@mnicom.org

Drivers

  • CTUL is seeking drivers to help members get to meetings and other urgent needs; contact tre@ctul.net to learn about needs in the Twin Cities area.
  • ICOM AID is offering accompaniment to families impact by ICE, such as attending immigration court. Contact aid@mnicom.org

Schools

Federal agents are not permitted on school property, in school buildings, or in private areas without a valid judicial warrant.

  • A valid judicial warrant comes from a federal or state court (“U.S. District Court,” “Superior Court,” not an agency),
  • is signed by a judge,
  • describes the exact location to be searched or item/person to seize,
  • must be issued within the past 14 days.
  • An ICE administrative warrant (often Form I-200/I-205) doesn’t grant entry to private areas; you can refuse entry without a judicial warrant. 
  • Ask officers to slide the warrant under the door or hold it to a window so you can read it.
  • Do not open the door unless you see a valid judicial warrant.

Learn from your school if they are taking precautions during arrivals and dismissals, if bus drivers have been taught safety measures, if the school is monitoring for suspicious activity and vehicles.

When possible, move in groups. With permission, support presence at bus stops.

MUUSJA

This Unitarian Universalist social justice organization suggests learning how local businesses can show Signs of Solidarity and prepare for ICE agents to arrive for customers or employees. One suggestion is to call out businesses that are not offering protections (two teenage Target employees were taken from work, for example, because they were allowed), and to support businesses that are protecting community and employees (Hola Arepa, Victor’s 1959 Cafe).

Others can be trained to serve as medics or marshals at demonstrations and rallies (consider connecting with Indivisible, 50501, Women’s March MN).

Offer healing, singing, art, dance.

Connect with North Star Alliance for precinct caucus resolutions and power-mapping.

Attend precinct caucuses on February 3 with a DFL Party Resolution Form or GOP Party Resolution Form.

“Things You Can Do to Defend Democracy” Newsletter

Long-time Minneapolis activist Pam Costain started a newsletter titled “Acting in an Emergency: Things You Can Do to Defend Democracy.” If you have not yet subscribed, this is an excerpt from 12/29/25:

You COULD:

  • Get trained to be an upstander through Unidos or a constitutional observer through COPAL and offer your presence when ICE is attempting to detain and kidnap people.
  • Give generously to provide food, medicine, diapers, household goods or other essential items to our neighbors. Every imaginable thing is needed right now.
  • Join mutual aid networks organized by neighborhoods, churches, temples and mosques. Volunteer at your local food shelf and help deliver food to those who cannot leave their homes.
  • Join a morning or evening patrol where there are high numbers of immigrant students or help to drive immigrant children to their place of learning.
  • Continue boycotting Target and equally important, tell them why. Don’t let down your guard even when it’s inconvenient. There is always another place to shop.
  • Keep showing up at weekly bridge and intersection protests. The snow and cold make your presence even more impactful and give heart to those passing by.
  • Produce art, music and poetry that builds awareness and calls attention to the horror we are living through. Inspire others to join an action through your art.
  • Join the intrepid ICE patrollers and ICE responders. They can be found on local Signal groups.
  • Get trained as a marshal for protests. Your services will be needed for future marches and the next “No Kings” demonstration in March.
  • Show up at the Whipple Building where ICE gathers before inflicting their daily acts of violence and trauma. Help 50501 monitor vehicles, license plates and numbers of agents.
  • Become an immigration court observer at the Whipple Building.
  • Encourage businesses where you shop to welcome immigrants, to refuse to serve ICE and to know their right to deny entry if ICE should show up to harass their employees.
  • Send money to candidates who are gearing up for 2026, especially those with fire in their bellies to challenge Trump and stop the madness. It’s not too early to volunteer.
  • Support organizations what provide legal defense to immigrants, who defend democracy and who insist on the right to due process.
  • Talk to your neighbors. Talk to your family, Talk to your kids. Talk to your faith community. Talk to others in your grocery store line. Tell the cashier why you have so much in your cart. Raise awareness.
  • Rest and take care of yourself when the news is too much or when you are tired and overwhelmed.
  • If nothing on this list resonates for you, find your own action and gather your own people.
  • Know that what we are building and doing together makes a difference. Our diversity of actions and interventions make us stronger and more resilient. Thank an activist today, especially someone working in ways that are not your jam. Stay unified, nonviolent and determined.

Some people are calling out hotels that host ICE agents, such as leaving reviews on Yelp or asking to speak to management on the phone. [Note that Hilton dropped a Lakeville Hampton Inn franchisee who refused to let immigration officers stay there.]

Whistle Brigade Kits

A community workshop was held at ColorWheel Gallery in Minneapolis to assemble whistle brigade kits (pictures above from Tammy Ortegon). There are two whistle sounds to alert the area to the presence of ICE, which not only advises neighbors but makes agents aware that they are being tracked. [Short whistle blasts as warning to others; long blast to indicate people are being taken.]

Owner Tammy Ortegon says she got most of the kit materials via @MN50501, which included:

  • Instruction zines designed by Pilsen Arts Center in Chicago
  • Red ‘Know your Rights’ cards in Spanish, English & Somali
  • Help Me ID cards in three languages.
  • She ordered whistles online
  • Keychains or lanyards were added to each bag

After Ortegon posted about the first workshop, she had 60,000 views — thanks in part to MN50501 — and about 500 people filled her small space. “We did what we could in the space. People came from all over the state.”

After making 300 packs on the first day, they ran out of materials. “People ran to the library and printing places to print more. We also had people dropping off 3-D printed whistles with MONARCA s #612-441-28821 on them (the rapid response number to alert teams). People made beaded bracelets with the MONARCA # on the beads. But they are flimsy and can easily break, so I ordered black silicone bracelets online with the phone number on them.”

Here is some of the information generated for a similar effort in Washington state, inspired by the work launched in Los Angeles and Chicago.

Compiled by Indivisible (as of 1/4/2026)

  • Monday Street/Corner 7:30 – 8:30 am University & Central Aves email earlybirdsmondays@gmail.com Minneapolis
  • Monday Street/Corner 11:00 am – 12:00 pm US Hwy 61 Lake City
  • Monday Street/Corner 12:00 – 1:00 pm (new time) Snelling & Selby Aves (temp cut-off is 10 degrees) St Paul
  • Monday Street/Corner 3:30 – 4:30 pm (new time and location) Kenwood Trail and Kenwood Trail Court (temp cut-off is 10 degrees) Lakeville
  • Monday Bridge Brigade 4:00 – 5:00 pm Pedestrian bridge at 252 and 85th Brooklyn Park
  • Monday Street/Corner 4:00 – 5:00 pm Kellogg Ave & Jackson St St Paul
  • Monday Bridge Brigade 4:00 – 5:30 pm (new time) Briarwood Nature Area pedestrian bridge over HWY 100 (connects with Basset Creek Park) Golden Valley
  • Monday Street/Corner 4:00 – 5:00 pm (new time) Snelling & Larpenter Aves Falcon Heights
  • Monday Street/Corner 4:00 – 4:30 pm (new time) Main & Broadway Winona
  • Monday Street/Corner 4:00 – 5:00 pm SW corner of Excelsior Blvd and Eden Prairie Rd (Unmapped Brewery) Minnetonka
  • Monday Street/Corner 4:30 – 5:30 pm 50th & Halifax Edina
  • Monday Street/Corner 4:30 – 5:30 pm 40th & Lyndale Minneapolis
  • Tuesday Street/Corner 7:30 – 8:30 am Bishop Whipple Federal Bldg 1 Federal Dr (ICE office) PLEASE NOTE: are subject to being photographed and recorded on video and audio and otherwise surveilled by ICE agents Minneapolis
  • Tuesday Street/Corner 8:10 – 8:40 am Hiawatha & 42nd Minneapolis
  • Tuesday Street/Corner 3:00 – 4:00 pm (new time) Excelsior & Grand (north side between Quentin and Park Nicollet) St Louis Park
  • Tuesday Street/Corner 3:30 – 4:30 pm (new time) Civic Center Dr. by Hy-Vee Barlow Plaza Rochester
  • Tuesday Bridge Brigade 3:30 – 4:30 pm (new time) Pedestrian bridge over Hwy 62 at 61st and 14th Ave S Minneapolis
  • Tuesday Street/Corner 4:00 – 5:30 pm (new time) Victory Memorial Parkway Flagpole at 45th Ave N Minneapolis
  • Tuesday Street/Corner 5:00 – 6:00 pm Main St N & Commercial St (east side) Stillwater
  • Wednesday Street/Corner 7:30 – 8:30 am Bishop Whipple Federal Bldg 1 Federal Dr (ICE office) PLEASE NOTE: are subject to being photographed and recorded on video and audio and otherwise surveilled by ICE agents Minneapolis
  • Wednesday Street/Corner 12:00 – 1:00 pm (new time) Yankee Doodle & Pilot Knob Road Eagan
  • Wednesday Street/Corner 3:30 – 4:30 pm University & Fairview Aves (Episcopal Homes of MN) St Paul
  • Wednesday Street/Corner 3:30 – 4:45 pm (new time) NE corner of Lexington Ave & Hwy 96 Shoreview
  • Wednesday Street/Corner 4:00 – 5:00 pm (new time) Loring Honk for Democracy corner of 12th and LaSalle Minneapolis
  • Wednesday Street/Corner 4:00 – 5:00 pm (new time) Lyndale & 36th Minneapolis
  • Wednesday Bridge Brigade 4:00 – 5:00 pm Pedestrian bridge at 252 and 85th Brooklyn Park
  • Wednesday Bridge Brigade 4:00 – 5:00 pm Lake Street/Marshall Ave bridge over the Mississippi River Minneapolis & St Paul
  • Wednesday Bridge Brigade 4:00 – 4:30 pm (new time) Eden Ave Bridge over Highway 100 Edina
  • Wednesday Bridge Brigade 4:00 – 5:00 pm (new time) Pedestrian Bridge over MN Highway 169 Champlin
  • Wednesday Street/Corner 4:15 – 6:00 pm (new time) MN State Highway 7 & County Road 101 Minnetonka
  • Wednesday Street/Corner 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm (new time) Bishop Whipple Federal Bldg 1 Federal Dr (ICE office) PLEASE NOTE: are subject to being photographed and recorded on video and audio and otherwise surveilled by ICE agents Minneapolis
  • Wednesday Street/Corner 4:00 – 5:00 pm (new time) Minnehaha & Nokomis Minneapolis
  • Wednesday Bridge Brigade 4:30 – 5:30 pm Pedestrian Bridge over 394 at Wayzata Blvd & Thomas Ave S. Minneapolis
  • Wednesday Bridge Brigade 4:30 – 5:30 pm (new time) Bridge over I-394, east of Louisiana Ave Golden Valley
  • Thursday Bridge Brigade 7:30 – 8:30 am Pedestrian Bridge over 1-94 at Chergosky Park Minneapolis
  • Thursday Street/Corner 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Protest at MN GOP HQ at 7400 Metro Blvd (temp cut-off is 10 degrees) Edina
  • Thursday Bridge Brigade 1:30 – 2:30 pm HWY 15 next to Apollo High School St Cloud
  • Thursday Street/Corner 3:00 – 5:00 pm HWY 61 and 4TH Street White Bear Lake
  • Thursday Street/Corner 3:30 – 4:30 pm (new time) Lake Street & W River Parkway Minneapolis
  • Thursday Street/Corner 3:30 – 4:30 pm (new time) County Road 42 & Cedar Avenue Apple Valley
  • Thursday Bridge Brigade 4:00 – 5:30 pm Matterhorn Dr NE bridge over I-694 Fridley
  • Thursday Bridge Brigade 4:00 – 5:00 pm (new time) 42nd Street Bridge over I-35W Minneapolis
  • Thursday Bridge Brigade 4:00 – 5:00 pm (new time) Cleveland Ave Bridge over I-94 St Paul
  • Thursday Bridge Brigade 4:30 – 5:30 pm Bridge at 49th and Central Columbia Heights
  • Thursday Street/Corner 6:00 – 6:30 pm Shine a Light Chicago & Lake Street Minneapolis
  • Friday Street/Corner 8:00 – 9:00 am Hiawatha & 42nd Minneapolis
  • Friday Street/Corner 8:30 – 9:30 am 36th Ave and Lake St Minneapolis
  • Friday Street/Corner 10:30 am – 1:30 pm Bishop Whipple Federal Bldg 1 Federal Dr (ICE office) PLEASE NOTE: are subject to being photographed and recorded on video and audio and otherwise surveilled by ICE agents Minneapolis
  • Friday Bridge Brigade 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (new day and time) Pedestrian Bridge over US Highway 212 Glencoe
  • Friday Street/Corner 12:00 – 1:00 pm (new time) Snelling & Selby Aves (temp cut-off is 10 degrees) St Paul
  • Friday Street/Corner 2:30 – 4:00 pm Broadway and 10th Alexandria
  • Friday Bridge Brigade 3:00 – 4:00 pm (new day) The pedestrian bridge over I-35E, off Pleasant and Bayard Aves St Paul
  • Friday Street/Corner 3:30 – 4:30 pm Minnesota Street and College Avenue St Joseph
  • Friday Street/Corner 3:00 – 4:00 pm (new time) Lexington & Larpenter Ave St Paul
  • Friday Street/Corner 3:30 – 4:30 pm (new time) Hwy 10 and US Hwy 71 Wadena
  • Friday Street/Corner 4:00 – 5:00 pm John Rich Park Red Wing
  • Friday Street/Corner 4:00 – 5:00 pm Fired up Fridays! 24th Ave and 8th St S in Morehead, near Rep Fischbach’s office Fargo/Morehead
  • Friday Street/Corner 4:00 – 5:00 pm Xavier Rd & Normandale Blvd Bloomington
  • Friday Street/Corner 5:00 – 6:00 pm MN Hwy 61 by Java Moose Grand Marais
  • Friday Street/Corner 5:00 – 5:30 pm 50th & Thomas Minneapolis
  • Saturday Bridge Brigade 10:00 – 11:00 am Rosland Park Pedestrian Bridge over MN Highway 62 Edina
  • Saturday Street/Corner 10:30 – 11:30 am RAR (Rise & Rally) MN Hwy 61 in front of the Cemetery Two Harbors
  • Saturday Street/Corner 11:00 am – 12:30 pm (new day and time) Corner of Hwys 13 & 42 Savage
  • Saturday Street/Corner 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Lincoln & Union Fergus Falls
  • Saturday Street/Corner 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Tesla Takedown 700 Ottawa Ave N Golden Valley
  • Saturday Bridge Brigade 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Stagecoach Trail Pedestrian Bridge over I-94 Afton
  • Saturday Street/Corner 11:00 am – 12:00 pm University & Fairview Aves (Episcopal Homes of MN) St Paul
  • Saturday Street/Corner 11:00 am – 1:30 pm Barnes and Noble (3940 Division Street) St Cloud
  • Saturday Street/Corner 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Kwik Trip (145 Broadway Ave N) Cokato
  • Saturday Street/Corner 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Tom Emmer’s office 9201 Quaday Ave. NE Otsego
  • Saturday Street/Corner 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Southeast corner of County Road 10 and Highway 5 Waconia
  • Saturday Street/Corner 12:00 – 1:00 pm 515 W Bridge St Owatonna
  • Saturday Street/Corner 12:00 – 1:00 pm 4th Street & Vermillion (Hwy. 61) Hastings
  • Saturday Bridge Brigade 12:00 – 1:00 pm Pedestrian Bridge over I-35W (south of Broadway) Minneapolis
  • Saturday Street/Corner 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm (new day and time) 66th & Penn Richfield
  • Saturday Street/Corner 1:00 – 3:00 pm Bishop Whipple Federal Bldg 1 Federal Dr (ICE office) PLEASE NOTE: are subject to being photographed and recorded on video and audio and otherwise surveilled by ICE agents Minneapolis
  • Saturday Street/Corner 1:00 – 2:00 pm Hwy 41 & Hazeltine Blvd Chaska
  • Saturday Street/Corner 1:00 – 2:00 pm Nicolet Commons Park (Corner of Nicollet Ave & 126th St) Burnsville
  • Saturday Street/Corner 2:00 – 3:00 pm Main Street, Library Square Hutchinson
  • Saturday Street/Corner 2:00 – 3:00 pm Paul Bunyan Park Bemidji
  • Saturday Street/Corner 4:30 – 6:00 pm Victory Memorial Parkway Flagpole at 45th Ave N Minneapolis
  • Sunday Bridge Brigade 10:00 – 11:00 am Pedestrian Bridge over MN Highway 169 Champlin
  • Sunday Bridge Brigade 1:00 – 2:00 pm Irene Hixon Whitney Pedestrian Bridge over I-94 (Loring Park) Minneapolis
  • Sunday Bridge Brigade 1:00 – 3:00 pm (new time) US Highway 8 bridge over the St Croix River Taylors Falls
  • Sunday Street/Corner 3:00 – 4:00 pm Corner of West 7th & Smith Ave St. Paul

Please share additional suggestions to community@womenspress.com with “mutual aid” in the subject line and we will add vetted ideas to this list.

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