ICE switching strategies

What’s up at the Whipple?

Federal immigrant agents may be scarcer these days in the Twin Cities, but observers say they’re still around, and they’re still detaining people. ICE watchers tell Sahan Journal’s Katelyn Vue that they’ve seen more agents leaving the Whipple Federal Building (still masked) than in April. It seems like federal officers have switched from detaining people in public to surveilling specific people while staying in their cars. [Sahan Journal]

• Less protesters: The chain-link fence and concrete barriers around the Whipple have come down as the number of daily protesters has dwindled around the government building. In early April, Rep. Angie Craig visited the Whipple after a judge's order affirmed Congressional members’ ability to make unannounced inspections at immigration detention facilities. Craig noted the holding facilities seemed to be in “fairly decent order.” [Star Tribune / Minnesota Reformer]
• Far from home: Though the Whipple itself is quieter these days, throughout Operation Metro Surge it served as a holding place for immigrants before they were quickly flown to Texas. Hundreds of immigrants detained in Minnesota have been sent to Texas detention facilities under conditions that have drawn humanitarian criticism. Notably, ICE has repeatedly denied Andrea Pedro-Francisco, a Guatemalan immigrant living in Minnesota, surgery for an ovarian cyst about the size of a lime. Pedro-Francisco is detained at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas. [Sahan Journal / The Texas Tribune]

Predictable: The day after Minnesota outlawed prediction markets (the first state in the country to do so) the federal government sued to stop it. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is arguing that the law undermines the federal government’s authority to regulate such markets. Minnesota legislators sought to close the loophole that’s allowed prediction markets to skirt gambling laws nationwide. [Minnesota Reformer]

What didn’t pass: MinnPost’s Cleo Krejci reports that despite being the heart of the anti-ICE movement, Minnesota failed to pass any laws in response to Operation Metro Surge. And it wasn’t for lack of trying; over two dozen bills were proposed. Meanwhile … California, Illinois, and Oregon have all passed bills limiting agents’ ability to enter places like hospitals and schools. [MinnPost]

Is this your car? I spy with my little eye … a City Cast bumper sticker! Sean spotted this very cool person driving on 11th Ave. S in downtown Minneapolis. If this is you, reply to this email and let us know so we can send you a little thank you gift. 💜

Another closure: Altera in St. Paul’s Highland Park is closing at the end of the month, after about a year and a half in business. I will sorely miss their Johnnycakes. [Pioneer Press]

Summer plans: Why limit yourself to the Twin Cities? We have your itinerary for 11 other cities around the country from our friends in the City Cast network. On today’s show, Sean hosts a city-against-city showdown to debate which place is best for a weekend trip this summer. See how the Twin Cities fared! [City Cast Twin Cities]

Thursday, May 21

• 🎉 Kickoff to Summer at the Fair (through Sunday) | Minnesota State Fairgrounds
• 🌿 Flower Hour | Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
• 🆓 Femme, Trans, Women Social Ride | Angry Catfish Bicycle
• 🆓 Open Screen: Film with Ajuawak Kapashesit, Martín Blanco & Uzoma Ngwu | Public Functionary
• 😂 Craig Robinson | Acme Comedy Company
• 🎼 Anna Devine with Walker Rider and lily blue | 7th St Entry

Friday, May 22

• 🎷 Cedar Ave Big Band feat. Colleen Raye | Crooners Supper Club
• 🆓 Silent Nights Silent Disco | The Commons Park
• 🎤 Fiona Hayes with Surly Grrly and Honey Grl | Pilllar Forum
• 🎛️ Grim Lot, Electric Church & Most of a Horse | Zhora Darling
• 🎼 Colin Bracewell with Call Me Fritz and Obadiah Gamble | 7th St Entry
• 🤖 SMERZ with Kaitlin Simotics | The Cedar Cultural Center
• 😂 Triple Feature – Tido Maldonado Edition | Comedy Corner Underground

• Senior Director of Finance at MN Orchestral Association | $160k – $175k per year
• Development Manager at Loaves and Fishes | $55k – $60k per year
• Director of People & Culture at Children's Cancer Research Fund | $107k – $140k per year
• Business Consultant at WomenVenture | $70k – $75k per year
• Director of Development at Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) | $85k – $90k per year