Legal Immigrants speak on ingrained fear
About a dozen members of the audience during this weeks Northfield City Council meeting expressed support for our Latino Community. One man compared their migration to monarchs, a legal immigrant who came here in 1956 had another perspective, she said being an immigrant is very hard work, her mother was a dressmaker and cleaned toilets. She said fears go back generations, “when that siren goes off the 1st Wednesday of each month, I want to duck, I want to run for shelter because I’ve been in a bombing raid”. She said, “it is something totally irrational, however, that’s my innermost being feeling that way and I believe that each one of us, whether we have policy or not, can reach out to those who are fearful”. She said a policy can’t do that and reminded the audience that we were all immigrants. Another immigrant who came from Guatamala in 1992 shared that they
lived under a 34 year war which meant, “when the soldiers would come to the door and scream at your face and make you open the doors even if you didn’t want to, tear ’em down. And these experiences are very common to a lot of us coming from Latin America”. He added that the fear stays with them, “and when a Immigration official comes to a door of a family that is already in fear, they really really terrorize them”. He said it’s a terror tactic ICE uses. They wanted more than a policy from the City. City Administrator Ben Martig said on KYMN, “there was a lot of discussion about policy versus ordinance. I think very clearly this is a permanent policy so the council has to approve it. For that matter it’s just as permanent as an ordinance is, I think it’s just as enforceable”. Martig stated, it is clearly written in the personnel policy that City employees, including police, “must not solicit immigration information or inquire about immigration status of any person, except when specifically required to do so by law”. They must ask citizen status if they are being considered for a government job or a run for election. If an employee, such as police, did ask, they could quite literally, be fired. Chief Nelson said they are not and CANNOT be agents of ICE. Marlene Rojas, host of El Super Barrio Latino, said it’s a good first step, “and I think we need to keep this conversation in the Human Rights Commission because we don’t know what’s going to happen with the new administration”. Rojas said her community was very happy that there was so much support for them. Some fear if Chief Nelson is gone, they don’t know what will happen, he has also been supportive of drivers licenses for everyone. Rojas said there needs to be more research on the issue and pointed out that undocumented workers pay taxes. She said, “we need to really think about what it’s going to impact broader, not just the Latino community, but the community in general”. Immigration attorneys across the country are looking at ways to draft policy that will protect law abiding undocumented residents.
Menards receives final approval for expansion
Menards received final approval for their PUD and their PLAT, according to Dundas Administrator John McCarthy. It’s been a long process as there are 2 property owners. They’ll be expanding by adding 21,000 square feet of warehouse on the south side. There’s a storm management pond on that south side which will need to be reconfigured. Menards will also be marketing an outlot that will be available for additional development.
Warm up residents with gently used winter gear
The Northfield Area United Way and Americorps have joined forces to warm up Northfield residents! Now through January 11th, they’re asking for gently used coats and warm weather gear such as snow pants, scarves and boots for all ages. Donations can be dropped off at a number of places including UCC, CAC, St. Dominic’s Church, Northfield Middle and High schools. Community members in need of warm clothing are invited to the Northfield Community Resource Center on January 14th from 10a to 2pm. If you’d like to volunteer call 507-664-3510
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