How Minnesota nonprofits continue to serve immigrant communities

When large public events reshape daily life—whether public health emergencies, natural disasters, or federal enforcement actions—nonprofits often are the institutions that help communities navigate uncertainty.

As we continue to learn of the immediate and long-term impacts of Operation Metro Surge, Minnesota’s nonprofit sector offers a case study in how local service organizations balance immediate community needs with long-term resilience. Minnesota is home to more than 38,000 registered nonprofits ensuring the community has access to basic needs, legal services, physical and mental safety, and more.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic and the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Minnesota nonprofits have faced continual turbulence requiring them to adapt services, operations, and staffing to meet changing community needs. These experiences helped build institutional “muscle memory,” shaping how nonprofits have responded to the recent federal immigration enforcement effort. Nearly half a million immigrants live in Minnesota, including citizens, permanent residents, students, workers, and refugees.

While federal statements have cited fraud as justification, reporting to date has not demonstrated a direct connection between scale of enforcement actions and specific fraud cases. Yet, local nonprofits, communities, and Minnesota’s economy have been profoundly affected.

Nonprofits and immigrant communities see wide-ranging impacts

Nonprofits often provide culturally specific services such as language access, legal support, youth programming, and community health outreach, and they frequently serve as a bridge between immigrant communities and public systems. Here’s a sample of what we’re hearing from nonprofits on the ground:

Legal services. Legal service nonprofits continue to be on the front lines of defense for an unprecedented number of people detained. They report challenges including clients denied access to counsel, transfers across state lines without due process, and detentions at routine hearings. Demands for consultations, trainings for the public and non-immigration lawyers, and habeas petitions that overwhelmed courts increased, as did lawsuits.

Mental health. For individuals who came to Minnesota after experiencing displacement or civil conflict in their home countries, nonprofit counselors and social service providers report that the enforcement actions have triggered memories of earlier trauma. NAMI Minnesota reports heightened fear, anxiety, grief, and uncertainty, particularly in immigrant communities, leading to increased demand for mental health services, crisis counseling, and culturally responsive support.

Basic needs. During the height of the surge, vulnerable people avoided routine activities such as grocery shopping, scheduling medical appointments, attending school, or commuting to work. Food shelves and emergency assistance providers have shifted to bring services to the community by partnering with schools and houses of worship and coordinating volunteer delivery of food and supplies as in-person visits declined and overall need increased.

Nonprofits with immigrant staff and volunteers. Organizations that employ staff from immigrant communities have also had to consider workplace policies and safety procedures. Some nonprofits have reviewed protocols for how staff should respond if federal law enforcement officials arrive at the workplace. Others have revisited internal policies related to data privacy and security, employee support programs, and staff safety.

Rural nonprofits. While much attention has focused on the Twin Cities, immigrants and refugees live across Minnesota. In rural communities where nonprofits are already underinvested, organizations struggled to meet demand while covering a wider geographic area.

Community groups are coordinating assistance

Nonprofits act as one of the first lines of defense during periods of uncertainty, and Minnesota has long demonstrated strong civic engagement and volunteerism. In response to the surge, community networks, mutual aid groups, and nonprofit organizations mobilized quickly, forming decentralized systems of support as community-led trainings for legal observers reached capacity.

These efforts include coordinating food distribution, short-term financial assistance, and legal referrals for families affected by detention. Mutual aid groups partnered with community-based nonprofits to identify needs and distribute resources. Nonprofits, including parent-teacher associations, mobilized their parent volunteers to transport children, share information, and ensure safety during pickup and drop off times. Arts and cultural organizations have also contributed by organizing community gatherings, creating signs, and documenting stories.

Amid increased demand, nonprofit capacity is strained

At the same time, these efforts are straining organizational capacity. Many organizations are navigating increased service demand while also managing funding constraints and staffing pressures. Early documentation by researchers and nonprofit coalitions suggests the impacts of the operation are disrupting schools, small businesses, service providers, workforce stability, and community trust. In Minneapolis alone, the surge caused an estimated $203.1 million in economic damages in one month.

Nonprofits play an essential, interconnected role within community infrastructure, and this moment underscores both their reach and their limitations. For nonprofits to continue responding to crisis, their capacity, systems, and infrastructure must have sustained investments. The ability for nonprofits to remain nimble, responsive, effective, and accountable depends on the strength of their infrastructure—their people, financial and data systems, policies, and procedures—which, in turn will ensure the well-being of all our communities.

Photo credit: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits