Location: Bro-Tex LLC, 830 N. Hampden Ave., St. Paul
St. Paul, MN — In response to the alarming and violent federal operation that unfolded this morning at the Bro-Tex facility in St. Paul where ICE, FBI, HSI, and DEA agents stormed a workplace, detained workers, deployed chemical irritants, and sowed fear throughout our community the Immigrant Defense Network (IDN) and our statewide and national partners are calling for an urgent community vigil and press availability tomorrow, Wednesday, November 19 at 9:00 AM at 830 N. Hampden Ave, St Paul, MN 55114.
This morning’s escalation was unacceptable. Workers were taken from their jobs. Families were torn apart. Brave people exercising their constitutional right to peacefully witness and question government actions were pepper-sprayed and shoved to the ground. Local elected officials, including the Mayor, City Council, DPS were never notified. Once again, federal agencies acted without transparency, without accountability, and without any regard for the safety or dignity of the people of Minnesota. Our communities deserve answers.
“What happened today is not law enforcement — it is an assault on our community,” said a representative from the Immigrant Defense Network. “No one should fear that simply going to work, providing for their family, or standing up for their neighbors will result in federal agents storming a workplace, detaining people en masse, and deploying chemical weapons against Minnesotans.”
Tomorrow’s vigil is an opportunity for community members, elected officials, advocates, and legal partners to come together, honor those taken, and collectively demand clarity and accountability for today’s actions. We will uplift the stories of families already navigating fear and uncertainty under intensified enforcement directives. We will assert clearly and unapologetically that Minnesota will not tolerate abuses of power on our soil.
We invite all media outlets to attend the press availability at 9:00 AM. Constitutional observers, rapid response leaders, and directly impacted community members will be available for interviews.
About the Immigrant Defense Network
The Immigrant Defense Network is a statewide network of more than 100 organizations committed to defending and advancing the rights, dignity, and safety of immigrant communities through rapid response, legal support, community organizing, and narrative change. For more information please visit: https://immigrantdefensenetwork.org
