Opinion | We small-business owners urge Congress to help end the madness of Operation Metro Surge

Star Tribune opinion editor’s note: This article was submitted by Angela Schwesnedl, the owner of Moon Palace Books in Minneapolis, on behalf of more than 50 small-business owners in Minnesota. See the full list of signatories below.

•••

Strib Voices publishes a mix of guest commentaries online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.

•••

Small-business owners are facing impossible choices, as are our employees. We call on U.S. Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar and the members of the Minnesota congressional delegation to act now to improve the situation here at home.

We believe all Minnesota residents, regardless of what they look like or where they come from, have the right to go about their lives freely — to work and shop, play and go to school, without fear of being kidnapped by federal agents. Yet, this is what is happening here in Minnesota. It started last fall and, despite the rhetoric, has not abated. Even with the small reduction in force, there are still 23 times more agents than are usually stationed here. It’s like shoveling your top step after a blizzard and pretending that the rest of the steps, sidewalk and driveway aren’t still buried.

We are overrun. It’s devastating our businesses, our employees, our families and our communities. We know, because we are experiencing it daily:

Small businesses have had violent actions taken right in front of their doors.

Child care centers have had staff ripped away during the workday, traumatizing children in their care and leaving them with inadequate staffing.

Many of those taken are U.S. citizens, targeted for being Black, brown or Indigenous, or speaking accented English.

Some vulnerable employees are understandably staying home to avoid these scenarios, or risking kidnapping to pay rent, put food on the table and care for their families.

Some small-business owners continue paying these valued employees so they don’t lose their housing and become even more at-risk.

Some small businesses are increasing staff to ensure no one is left alone in case Immigration and Customs Enforcement attacks.

Some small businesses are keeping their doors locked, only admitting customers if they knock.

Others have closed altogether — we hope not permanently.

Nearly all of us have seen significant reductions in foot traffic and sales. We answer calls from customers wondering if it’s safe to visit today: Has ICE been in the area, will I have to walk through tear gas, are you sufficiently staffed to be open?

The ICE and Customs and Border Protection occupation is bad for business and has completely disrupted business as usual. Nearly all of us have seen a drop in sales. Small-business owners are spending our time addressing all of these variables and learning about our Fourth Amendment rights to refuse entry to government agents who don’t have a warrant signed by a judge. Many of us haven’t thought about our business plans or ways we could grow or better serve our customers for months; instead, we’re confronted daily with how to protect ourselves, our employees and our customers and, frankly, whether our business will survive at all.

They have a moral choice with real economic consequences on communities throughout Minnesota and across the country.

We call on them to denounce the Trump administration’s retribution campaign against Minnesota and its attempts to consolidate power by negating the rights afforded us by the U.S. Constitution. Instead, stand with Minnesotans and small-business owners everywhere to require an end to the ICE and CBP surge, refuse to provide more funding to them, and ensure accountability for those traumatized, harmed and killed.

Side with We the People — your constituents who live and work toward dreams of a future in which we are free to exercise our rights.

Friday’s votes will show whose side you’re on. Our communities and our small businesses will have to live with the impact of your choices. We will be watching and will remember.

Signatories are:

Eric Plumb, Amazing Alonzo Bookstore, Duluth

Nicole Nfonoyim-Hara, Griot Arts, Rochester

Lauren Richards, Tropes & Trifles, Minneapolis

Jessica Peterson White, Content Bookstore, Northfield

Lauren Callis, Curiosity Studio, Minneapolis

Abigail Adelsheim-Marshall, Mischief Toy Store, Saint Paul

Jillian Hiscock, A Bar of Their Own, Minneapolis

Emi Nijiya, Jackalope Tattoo, Minneapolis

Victoria Ford, Comma, a bookshop, Minneapolis

Emily Torgrimson, Eat for Equity Catering, Minneapolis

Dan Marshall, Mischief Toy Store, Saint Paul

Dan Swenson-Klatt, Butter Bakery Café, Minneapolis

Wes Burdine, Black Hart of Saint Paul, Saint Paul

Sarah Lechowich, True North Roofing and Exteriors, Cottage Grove

LaShante Grigsby, Flava Cafe Co., Minneapolis

Rachel Bouchard, Flourish Pilates+Bodywork, Minneapolis

Scott Rohr, The Yarnery ,St. Paul

Skot Rieffer, Bumbling Fools Mead, Minneapolis

Hannah Wydeven, Solcana Fitness, LLC, Minneapolis

Caitlin O’Neil, Tropes & Trifles, Minneapolis

Jenni Hill, Avant Garden Bookstore, Anoka

Scott Van Koughnett, Eat My Words Bookstore, Minneapolis

Sarah Piepenburg, Vinaigrette, Minneapolis

Kacey Hruby Wyttenhove, Cream & Amber, Hopkins

Kevin Cox, Kevin Dera Studio, Minneapolis

Madison Rubenstein, Rubenstein Studio, Minneapolis

Rima Parikh, The Thinking Spot, Wayzata

Devin Abraham, Once Upon a Crime, Minneapolis

Beth Thompson, Big Hill Books, Minneapolis

Justyn O’neill, The Seeker Yoga School, Richfield

Laura Scholl, Metro Blooms, Minneapolis

Kirstin Wiegmann, Reverie Cafe + Bar & Dreamstate Cafe, Minneapolis

Bobby Dobrow, Zenith Bookstore, Duluth

Charlotte Klimek, Hearthside Books, Watertown

Ashley Christopherson, Niche Books, Lakeville

Amanda Pesek, Excelsior Bay Books, Excelsior

Barry Kryshka, Trylon Cinema, Minneapolis

Shelly Rae, The Yarnery, St Paul

Michelle Sharp, Meet the Minnesota Makers, Eagan

Gretchen West, Valley Bookseller, Stillwater

Dylan Alverson, Modern Times, Minneapolis

Brad Flaherty, Twin City Sticker, Minneapolis

Holly Weinkauf, Red Balloon Bookshop, St Paul

Kevin Brown, Smart Set Community Printing, Minneapolis

Anna Hersh, Wild Rumpus, Minneapolis

Niles Deneen, CLOTH AND CLAY INC, Saint Paul

Sara Pette, Outta Wax Record Pressing, Minneapolis

Jen Geraedts, Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery, Park Rapids

Terresa Hardaway, PhD, Black Garnet Books, Saint Paul

Paige Pelini, Mother Earth Gardens, Minneapolis

Louise Erdrich, Birchbark Books, Minneapolis

Chloe Kiener, Goodbye Blue Monday Coffeehouse, Northfield

Kelly Kager, Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais

Tesha Christensen, TMC Publications CO, Minneapolis

Amber Haukedahl, Tare Market, Minneapolis

Francisca Pass, Dozoles Creations LLC, Minneapolis

Sarah Schroeder, Minnesota Made, Stillwater

Rachel Garrison, The Wellness Center MN, Minneapolis

Kara Motta, The Wellness Center MN, Minneapolis

Elizabeth McCullough, Sharp Reads LLC, Taylors Falls

Max Okray, Savory Bake House, Minneapolis

Sadie Diebolt, Asa’s Bakery, Minneapolis

Maren Macosko, Cloudland Theater, Minneapolis

Marcus Parkansky, Misfit Coffee, Minneapolis

Jennie Tang, The Workshop Mpls, Minneapolis

Roxanne Sanchez, Nine Lives Thrift, Saint Paul

Dan Anderson, Dogwood Coffee, Minneapolis

Catherine Coon, Home Makers LLC, Minneapolis

Rich Larson, KYMN Radio, Northfield

John Lynch, Farina Rossa, Minneapolis

Niko Tonks, Double Elbow Beer, Rochester

Rachel Cleveland, Little Charity Book Truck, Chaska

Ann Ulrich, FoodSmith Bistro Pub, West St. Paul

Kendall Horton-Clements, Ole Store Restaurant, Northfield

Sarah Russel, Well Read Books, Elk River

Monica Smith, Elite Repeat St Paul, St. Paul

Michael Casler, Hóll Studio, Saint Paul

Dean Englemann, Wise Acre Eatery, Minneapolis

Scott Endres, Tangletown Gardens, Minneapolis

Dawn Finnie, Little Thistle Brewing Company, Rochester

Kim Kocak, Homebody Refill Market, Northfield

Annie Henderson, Forager Brewery, Rochester

Allison McDowell, Allison’s Addicts Boutique, Elk River

Alex West Steinman, The Coven, Minneapolis

Krista Rothmaler, The Occasional Fling, Elk River

Patrick Wylie, Baker’s Field Flour and Bread, Minneapolis

Melissa Gould, Minne Made and More, Elk River

Lisa Deyo, Sweet Reads, Austin

Keith Wyman, Concrete Pig, Minneapolis

Nate Houge, Brake Bread, St. Paul

Maggie Durenberger, Gingerbread Village, South Saint Paul

Nathan Watters, Keepsake Cidery, Dundas

Rachel Kinny, Paisley Gardens, LLC, Northfield

Rachel Dunn, The Toolbox Collective, Minneapolis

Laura Meyers, Imminent Brewing, Northfield