By Rich Larson, KYMN News
As federal immigration enforcement activity increases across Minnesota, groups of Northfield residents are organizing to monitor and respond to what they describe as an intensified presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the community.
The reporting comes from Cait Kelley, a journalist with Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), a Northfield native, and a former intern at KYMN, who recently returned home to cover local reaction to ICE activity. Kelley, who is now a politics fellow with MPR, spent two days interviewing roughly a dozen Northfield residents involved in community response efforts.
“These are people who feel like ICE is everywhere right now,” she said. Many residents she spoke with believe Northfield is experiencing a heavier concentration of federal agents compared to other similarly sized communities in Minnesota.
Several local efforts are underway. One of the more established groups, Northfield Supporting Neighbors, has been active since 2017. The organization focuses on raising funds for legal support, assisting families affected by detentions, and operating an ICE activity alert system that notifies subscribers in English and Spanish when agents are reported in the area.
Alongside these formal efforts, Kelley observed more informal, grassroots organizing. Some residents conduct neighborhood “patrols,” watching for vehicles believed to be associated with ICE — typically SUVs with out-of-state plates or heavily tinted windows — and sharing information with neighbors. Kelley participated in several of these ride-alongs, describing a community that is highly alert, stressed, and fatigued.
“People are exhausted,” she said. “Some have witnessed arrests, others know friends or family who have been detained. This isn’t entirely new, but the intensity feels different.”
Kelley also reported witnessing ICE agents requesting employment records from local businesses, including an incident at Brick Oven Bakery. City officials and local attorneys have since offered guidance to businesses on their legal rights when approached by federal agents.
Despite repeated requests from journalists statewide, including KYMN, Kelley said communication from the Department of Homeland Security has been limited, and some official statements have been difficult to verify. Kelley said MPR and other news organizations have documented inconsistencies in DHS data and public claims.
Still, she noted one unexpected outcome: new connections across the community. “People who might not have interacted before are finding each other,” she said. “City leaders, neighbors, activists — a lot of folks are acting as connectors right now.”
As immigration enforcement continues to draw national and international attention to Minnesota, Northfield residents remain deeply engaged, navigating fear, vigilance, and a renewed sense of collective responsibility.
Read Cait Kelley’s story about Northfield’s reaction to ICE activity here
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net.
