01/21/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/22/2026 15:45
One, for instance, is a mother of four, who had just dropped her kids off at school when she was picked up by agents. Another, a teenager who was buying his lunch for school was grabbed in a grocery store parking lot. And a caregiver for people with disabilities was detained while on his lunch break.
Let me be absolutely clear: this operation does not serve the public interest in any way. It exists solely to meet anti-immigration quotas.
I've heard from countless employers who are desperately worried for their employees-all of whom are authorized to work and remain in this country and are vital to our workforce, community, and economy.
Many are scared to leave their houses; to send their kids to school; to go to work or the grocery store, the hospital, or the pharmacy. Because they know that, regardless of their immigration status or lack of criminal record, they could be detained by violent, masked agents for no reason other than the color of their skin. And because they have seen how agents behave. In Minneapolis. In Chicago. In LA. And in every other "blue" city this Administration has set its sights on.
My office and I are continuing to assist our constituents and their loved ones however we can. I remain committed to holding this lawless Administration accountable for their abuses, demanding transparency, and getting Noem removed from office.