Minnesota Mennonites Support Neighbors During Immigration Crackdown

Anabaptists work to respond with love and aid as federal agents use deadly force in the Twin Cities area.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 8:47pm

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As the Minneapolis and St. Paul area was inundated with federal immigration agents using deadly force, Anabaptists have worked to respond in love to support their neighbors and each other. Members of Mennonite congregations began strategizing and organizing to help families, including driving students to school, providing food, and participating in vigils and demonstrations for immigration justice.

Why it matters

This story highlights the Mennonite community's commitment to peacemaking and welcoming strangers in the face of aggressive federal immigration enforcement actions that have resulted in multiple deaths. It demonstrates how faith-based groups are mobilizing to support vulnerable immigrant populations and advocate for policy reform.

The details

Mennonite congregants like Joan Kreider began driving students to school and providing other aid in December 2025 as ICE activity increased. On January 7, 2026, ICE agents attacked students and teachers at a school, prompting calls to close schools and allow at-risk students to attend virtually. Mennonites have also hosted vigils, made quilts for relief efforts, and contributed to the denomination's Justice Fund to support affected families.

  • In December 2025, Mennonite congregants began organizing to support families as ICE activity increased in the Twin Cities area.
  • On January 7, 2026, ICE agents attacked students and teachers at a school, leading to calls to close schools and allow at-risk students to attend virtually.
  • On January 11, 2026, Mennonites grieved the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti at a mass vigil outside the Minnesota Capitol and made quilts for Mennonite Central Committee.

The players

Joan Kreider

A retired attender of Faith Mennonite Church in Minneapolis who began driving three boys to and from school in December 2025 to limit their potential exposure to ICE.

Renee Good

A woman who was shot to death by ICE agents in her vehicle on January 7, 2026.

Alex Pretti

An intensive care nurse who was shot multiple times and killed by ICE agents after he stepped between them and a woman they pushed to the ground on January 9, 2026.

Mennonite Church USA

The denomination that renounced indifference toward mistreatment of asylum seekers and immigrants in a January 27, 2026 statement and called on congregations to provide sanctuary, support, and advocacy.

Faith Mennonite Church

A Minneapolis congregation that hosted a song vigil in solidarity with other vigils 'to flood our cities with song' after the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

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What they’re saying

“I arrived about 15 minutes after ICE agents had left. They had shown up at the front entrance of the school, attacked students and teachers, deploying tear gas and pepper spray indiscriminately, and had taken an employee and protesters into custody.”

— Joan Kreider, Retired attender of Faith Mennonite Church (anabaptistworld.org)

“In the midst of all of it, I've realized what we are called to do is something quite small and quiet. Just deliver food, accompany someone to work, give money, be ready and resilient for whatever lies ahead.”

— Joan Kreider, Retired attender of Faith Mennonite Church (anabaptistworld.org)

“The current administration has not moved toward greater discipline or accountability for the agents under its authority. Instead, officials have offered explanations for the deaths that lack thorough investigation and appear to conflict with available video documentation.”

— Mennonite Church USA (anabaptistworld.org)

What’s next

Mennonite Church USA called on congregations and members to provide sanctuary and support for neighbors facing deportation, contribute to the denomination's Justice Fund, advocate for policy reform, and participate in nonviolent witness and demonstrations for immigration justice.

The takeaway

This story demonstrates how the Mennonite community in Minnesota is responding with compassion and action to support their immigrant neighbors during a time of heightened federal immigration enforcement, even in the face of tragic violence. Their commitment to peacemaking and welcoming the stranger serves as an example of faith-based resistance to unjust policies.