JANUARY 9, 2026 – After another day filled with talk about Wednesday’s cold-blooded killing by an ICE agent, I’m in equal parts mad and sad—mad that people in positions of the highest responsibility talk and act so irresponsibly; sad over the loss of our decency and dignity.
From the president and his closest minions to his Republican enablers and hinterland supporters, vicious rhetoric and disingenuous justifications dash credibility and trust and undermines social cohesion. Trump has driven us into disunity on a field of scapegoats. The financial grift and corruption sanctioned and pursued by him was bad enough. Then came the chainsaw act, shattering overnight, America’s long-standing status as a beacon of higher education and scientific research for the betterment of humankind. That irreparably destructive whirlwind was followed by “tariff terrorism,” creating havoc in global markets—and threatening many a small American business, as their owners/managers tried desperately to weather a hurricane of artificially created uncertainty. But the worst was yet to come: creation of a police state, deploying terror tactics to assert and expand its power through the dynamic of fear.
Today I heard multiple stories from friends and family members about ICE operations—a raid at a local high school; another at a restaurant; the arrest of a protester by ICE agents; ICE agents going door-to-door in east St. Paul, asking residents “Where the Asians live”[1]; a 500-person increase in the local ICE force, from 2,000 to 2,500. ICE harassments and detentions are no longer rare or theoretical occurrences.
In short, the all too frequent images of a large group of masked men in camouflage, without badges or name tags, guns all too readily drawn, harassing one or two unarmed civilians, ought to send shivers up and down the spine of anyone acquainted with Germany in the 1930s—or the United States in the 1940s, with the indiscriminate round-up and internment of loyal Japanese-Americans.
As ICE goons create fear, however, they also drive anger. I suspect that irrespective of the price of eggs next November, if ICE tactics aren’t reined in substantially—and soon—Democrats will be swept into sizable majorities in both House and Senate . . . unless, fearful of impeachment (and conviction) by a Democratic Congress, Trump orders a suspension of the election “for national security reasons.”
Late this afternoon after picking up Illiana from school, I joined her dad at the vigil for Renée Good in front of the state capitol, five miles from our house. She’d wanted to attend, as well, but wound up staying behind to take an online art class. She would’ve been perfectly safe, as things turned out, but I had little way to be sure that would be the case. Tensions here are palpable, and if I’d pushed the matter and anything untoward were to have happened, I would never be able to live with such consequences.
Nonetheless, I felt considerable conflict with my decision. Wasn’t there an invaluable lesson of citizenship to be learned here? A lesson in standing up for what you believe is for the betterment of society; something critical to protect the common good?
By the time I arrived at the capitol, a sizable crowd had assembled. Cory, who’s had experience with demonstrations, estimated the gathering at “a couple thousand.” Many more people were streaming toward the capitol when I was leaving. It was a cross-section of our community, but mostly white, many middle-aged, and many older folks too—and, I observed, plenty of kids Illiana’s age, even younger. The security consisted of a few capitol police and several state patrols, along with several union volunteers (identified by bright green vests) to keep an eye out for possible agitators—of whom none appeared, at least while I was on hand.
The crowd was remarkably subdued and listened attentively to each speaker—mostly religious leaders—beseeching their audience to seek peace and provide mutual support. I did see the F-bomb on a sign here and there, but for the most part the signage spoke for everyone present: “ICE, leave Minnesota alone!”
I returned home feeling more optimistic than I’d been beforehand. For every person of ill-intent in this country, I thought, there have to be many more who see things as Beth and I and our wide circle of friends and neighbors do. We might well be accused of “siloing ourselves,” but there’s strength in numbers and hope in strength.
More demonstrations are scheduled for tomorrow. The forecast calls for “cold,” but we have plenty of experience with winter. Accordingly, you can be assured that Minnesotans will protest until the ICE melts.
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© 2026 by Eric Nilsson
[1] Clearly these agents were outsiders. Anyone from this area would know that the predominant population of east St. Paul is of Hmong origin. Most Hmong immigrants arrived 50 years ago after fleeing Laos. Many of the older ones had worked for the C.I.A. Their lives and families were endangered when the U.S. withdrew from S.E. Asia after the fall of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) in 1975. And now ICE is targeting these people who’ve contributed so much to our community. (The current mayor of St. Paul is Hmong-American.) But I remind the reader—my two sons and a niece are Korean-born, and thus, present as “Asian.” Today a friend of mine whom I encountered in “Little Switzerland” told me that his son, also Korean-born, now carries his passport with him at all times. I’d like to know how many citizens who support ICE operations carry their passports with them whenever they leave the house.
