Community Rallies in Support of Immigrants Detained in Kandiyohi County Jail
Approximately 100 demonstrators gathered outside the Law Enforcement Center in Willmar, Minnesota, to show their support for immigrants caught in the dragnet of immigration enforcement by federal authorities. The event was a powerful display of solidarity, with community members sharing stories of how immigrants have positively impacted their lives and the community at large.
A Call for Compassion and Understanding
The Kandiyohi County jail facility is one of three detention centers in Minnesota that hold individuals for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The gathering was attended by community members from Willmar, Alexandria, and Northfield, who came to express their support for immigrants in their communities who feel threatened by current federal policies. Toward the end of the vigil, demonstrators shouted toward the jail facility, “We are here!” in both English and Spanish, emphasizing their presence and solidarity.
Personal Stories and Experiences
Visitation Pastor Andres Albertsen, of Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar, led a prayer and shared his personal story of how current federal policies have affected his life. Albertsen, an immigrant from Argentina who has been living in the U.S. since 2011 and recently became a naturalized citizen, spoke about his friend Edward, who was arrested in Willmar on October 25. According to Albertsen, Edward was taken into ICE custody after being stopped by four cars, two unmarked and two marked, while on his way to work. The marked squads’ affiliation with the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office or the Willmar Police Department is unknown.
Others who attended the demonstration shared their own stories and concerns, including Duane Franz, a Mountain Lake farmer who has been volunteering to drive immigrants to ICE check-ins, court hearings, and other appointments. Franz recounted an experience earlier this year where he drove two immigrants to the ICE facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for a routine check-in, only to have one of them taken into custody without explanation.
A Call to Action
The demonstration highlighted the need for compassion and understanding in the face of immigration enforcement. As Albertsen emphasized in his closing prayer, “we need to regard immigrants as ‘members of our human family,'” recognizing that their dignity is directly connected to our own. The event also brought attention to the stories of individuals like Adán Núñez Gonzalez, a Northfield resident who was arrested by masked agents in plain clothes and is currently facing detention. A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $20,000 to support Núñez Gonzalez and his family as they challenge his detention.
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