Opinion | Even as ICE pulls back, legal pressures on families are ramping up

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When federal officials announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement was scaling back its visible presence in Minnesota, many people assumed the pressure on immigrant families was easing. From what I am seeing every day, the opposite is happening.

As a Minneapolis community leader working closely with immigrant and refugee families, my phone has been ringing more than ever. But the calls have changed.

They no longer begin with, “ICE is in the neighborhood.”

Now they begin with panic and confusion.

“I have a court hearing and no lawyer.”

“We didn’t know this appointment was coming. What should we do?”

Much of this process now happens through deadlines, paperwork and legal procedures — often outside public view.

Families are receiving hearing notices warning that if they fail to appear, they can be ordered removed from the U.S. and that proceedings may continue even in their absence. For people who have moved, do not speak English or cannot afford legal representation, navigating this system within days or weeks can feel overwhelming.

The protests that once filled our streets cannot help someone facing a court deadline next week. What families need now is legal access, accurate information and community support.

My concern about this moment comes from experience.

Then the game would suddenly stop. Mothers would run from every direction, grabbing whichever child they could reach and rushing us into the nearest building as fighting broke out. My family survived. Some families did not.

I don’t remember how the war began. But I remember what came after — the fear, the uncertainty and how danger often arrived when people believed things were calm.

Years later, I lived just blocks from where George Floyd was killed. I watched our neighborhood come together in powerful ways. But as the attention faded, the long-term impact remained. Businesses across Minneapolis and St. Paul suffered an estimated $350 million to $500 million in losses, and many areas are still recovering.

Those experiences taught me something important — that the aftermath of a crisis is often more difficult than the moment itself, especially when public attention moves on.

That is what worries me now.

The consequences extend beyond individual cases. Minnesota’s economy depends heavily on immigrant workers, entrepreneurs and consumers. Immigrants make up roughly 1 in 9 workers in the state. When families face sudden legal uncertainty, many miss work to attend hearings, leave jobs unexpectedly or pull back from daily life. Employers lose reliable workers. Businesses face instability. Local spending declines.

The economic impact may be quiet, but it is real — and it affects communities far beyond immigrant households.

We have seen this pattern before. Public attention rises during moments of crisis. Communities mobilize. Support flows.

Then the spotlight moves on.

If my life experiences have taught me anything, it is this: The most dangerous moment is when people believe the crisis is over.

Now is the time for legal organizations, employers, faith communities and civic leaders to step forward — not step back. Expanded immigration legal support, workplace stability and community awareness are more important than ever.

When enforcement disappears from the streets, it does not mean the crisis is over. It simply means fewer people can see it.