A Winter of Anguish for Minneapolis Children

Federal immigration raids in the Minneapolis area have left many children living in fear and taking on new responsibilities at home. Xochitl Soberanes, 16, became the backbone of her family after her father was detained, saying, "It’s like living in fear all the time." Neighbors have grown wary of leaving their homes, events have been canceled, bomb threats have reached schools, and some children are missing from classrooms.

Several families described traumatic encounters: Destiny Jackson’s children were caught in a protest where federal agents deployed tear gas and flash‑bang grenades, an explosion set off their car’s airbags and a 6‑month‑old required CPR. Young children report night terrors and new alarms at ordinary sights and sounds, and some families have begun carrying passports or avoiding buses out of fear that they might be targeted.

Schools have emerged as flash points.

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