Open Circle congregation mobilizes to support Minneapolis and surrounding communities

By Janet Westenberg

Since President Trump initiated his federal immigration crackdown, sending thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Minnesota, the communities that Open Circle Church of the Brethren supports have been in crisis.

Regardless of political positions, this is the harm that has been inflicted on our communities because of this action:

● Immigrants have become afraid to leave their homes to buy food or to work, leaving them without food to eat, essential personal supplies, or money to pay their rent and bills. Affected “immigrants” include legal immigrants, those with temporary protection status, those moving through the courts to obtain their citizenship, and US citizens who fear racial profiling, which the US Supreme Court has allowed. [See the NPR report “The Supreme Court clears the way for ICE agents to treat race as grounds for immigration stops” published on Sept. 13, 2025, at www.npr.org/2025/09/13/nx-s1-5507125/the-supreme-court-clears-the-way-for-ice-agents-to-treat-race-as-grounds-for-immigration-stops.]

*Photos courtesy of Open Circle Church of the Brethren*

● ICE agents have targeted schools causing schools to shut down to protect the safety of students and resulted in many children in the community no longer attending their schools.

● Vibrant immigrant businesses have experienced devastating financial loss as their patrons have vanished, either removed from the community by ICE or forced into hiding.

● Neighbors who fear racial profiling have ceased to seek out health care in fear of encountering ICE agents, risking harm to their health.

● US citizens have been arrested for exercising their constitutional rights or because of their accents and skin color, resulting in the need for legal assistance.

● Parents have been separated from children, sometimes leaving children without parents to care for them.

● Protesters have braved bitter cold temperatures to peacefully protest and bear witness to what ICE agents are doing to their neighbors. They often have been physically harmed by pepper spray, tear gas, chemical irritants, and ICE assaults. And, as everyone has seen, some have been shot and killed.

While Open Circle is a small congregation and the need has, at times, seemed overwhelming, the members of Open Circle have mobilized to support its communities. Here are the actions our congregation has been taking to help:

● We hosted a MONARCA citizen observer training on Saturday, Jan. 24, at our church to educate our community on their rights and how to peacefully observe and bear witness safely. Church organizers reported that we packed more than 130 attendees into our church to receive the training.

● Church members have organized food collections and monetary donations to support La Vina Comunidad Cristiana church in Burnsville and Dios Habla Hoy Ministries Inc. in South Minneapolis. Many church members have volunteered their time to purchase and collect food to donate, assist with packing food for families, and delivering it to neighbors in need.

● One church member, who is an attorney, has been offering his legal services and in lieu of payment has created a fund to assist the community with their needs.

● Many church members have organized times to be out in the community at our local mosque welcoming those attending Friday prayers and showing our solidarity with them.

● Church members also have participated in the larger scale protests in Minneapolis and smaller protests in Minneapolis and the communities surrounding our church, armed with layers of clothing, hand and feet warmers, and whistles.

● Another church member attended a fundraiser to support medics who assist citizen observers on site in real time who have been pepper sprayed or physically injured by ICE. The fundraiser also supported the local nonprofit that is organizing peaceful protests.

Open Circle will continue these actions until our neighbors are safe and this crisis resolves. Food and monetary donations are being accepted at Open Circle Church, 2400 Highland Dr., Burnsville, MN 55337. For any monetary donations, please note that the donations are identified for “Social Justice.” We are currently collecting dry goods, meats, diapers, milk, eggs, and commonly needed items as well as boxes and egg cartons.

— Janet Westenberg is a member of Open Circle Church of the Brethren.

*Open Circle collects donations of diapers.*

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