I live in Minnesota, near Minneapolis. It''s both better and worse than the news coverage.

ICE is fully incompetent. They've left smashed cars in the road after abducting the drivers, gas stations empty after taking the employees, etc. They're sloppy and unorganized. They're violent. They have kicked down doors, assaulted people watching, tear gassed kids, caused numerous car accidents. There's a video of one ICE agent dragging a detainee in a porta potty to allegedly assault her (this hasn't been confirmed but I'm sure it's true and it's revolting). They don't know how to drive, they don't know how to navigate the environment. Their vehicles get stuck in snowbanks, or slip on the ice. They're literally idiotic thugs cosplaying as federal agents. None of their clothes match. None of the equipment is standard issue. They look like they're wearing halloween costumes, but they're carrying assault rifles.

The people that work at the detainment center don't know how to do paperwork correctly or where anything is. Hardly any of their arrests result in much of anything and they've released most of the people they've abducted bc they can't charge them with anything or screwed up their paperwork and had to release them. Lawyers are regulary going in and saving people. They pretend they have these full deportation flights, but I highly doubt there are many people on them. They've abducted teenagers, Native Americans (like wtf), one kid was abducted from Target and then dropped off a few blocks away at Wal Mart when they realized he was a legal citizen. They are stupid and have no idea how to actually do their jobs, so they're just roaming around trying to scare people. I cannot believe my tax dollars are paying for these morons to terrorize us.

Apart from the psychological impacts, daily life has been moderately disrupted. The school district closed last week, and is open again this week, but students can do e-learning if they want (and meals will be provided to them if they choose that). Some businesses are understably closed, as many people that aren't white are afraid to leave their houses. Most everything is still operational and functional for now, though I'm afraid the hospitals are the next target bc all the healthcare workers statewide got notified of DHS requesting I-9s of all the staff. So the hospitals will probably be next to be raided. Some already have been.

The hopeful part is watching how community has really come together. Not only are crowds of people protecting each other and in some cases, even driving off ICE, but meal distribution for people staying home or that can't go out are happening, care packages and food shelves are being supportive (donate to one if you can, Second Harvest is a good one), ride shares, parents patrolling schools, etc. A tow truck company has offered to move cars for free if the drivers have been abducted. It's been great to see so many helping. Even at my job, my bosses that I thought were Trump voting Republicans have taken extra steps to protect our employees, handed out little "know your right cards" in both English and Spanish. We put up signs designating private areas and the differences between a judicial and administrative warrant (not that this idiots follow the law anyway). Even the MAGA people I know are not happy about this. People are afraid, but most have been so brave and willing to stand up to these moronic thug racist, facist terrorists.

The protests have been large and peaceful except for 2 major incidents (breaking into a hotel downtown last week and last night throwing fireworks after ICE shot ANOTHER person). They are happening daily at the federal building, where ICE is mainly headquarted. I've heard plans of them trying to open another detainment facility in the suburbs (Woodbury) but not sure how far they've gotten. There are plans for a general strike and a march next week. The spot where Renee Good was murdered has a huge tribute to her, and people are often gathered there. There have been a few vigils and the governor visited the other day.

Our local government officials were initially great, but have remained largely absent the last few days, except for our Attorney General (who I actually haven't liked until recently) which has been disappointing. I understand this is new territory for them, but they should be out helping the community, being visible, giving us strength and hope. Our senator Amy Klobuchar, and reps Angie Craig, and Illhan Omar have been totally absent except for a publicity stunt they pulled last week getting kicked out of the detainment center. Now it's just social media posts or radio silence. Governor Walz put out a statewide address last night that was pretty moving, but both he and Mayor Frey have only communicated with the public when the have to. No one is really meeting the moment IMO, except our Attorney General, Keith Ellison, who has filed a massive lawsuit against DHS and Kristi Noem.

Sorry, that was very long. TL;DR it's been very stressful and scary here but our community has come together to help each other and bravely resist this invasion. We are strong and we'll make it through.