Immigrant Defense Network expands constitutional observer training across Midwest

The network is activating more residents to document federal immigration enforcement activity in 30 cities across the region.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Immigrant Defense Network (IDN) is expanding its training efforts to 30 cities across the Midwest, equipping more residents to document federal immigration enforcement activity. The training program, part of the IDN's 'Brave of Us Tour,' aims to mobilize communities and ensure constitutional protections are upheld as thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have flooded the Twin Cities region.

Why it matters

As immigration enforcement has intensified in Minnesota, the IDN's constitutional observer program has been crucial in documenting federal agents' actions and alerting communities. The expansion of the training efforts to 30 cities across the Midwest signals the growing need to protect the rights of immigrant communities as ICE presence increases in the region.

The details

The IDN was founded last year in the aftermath of Donald Trump's election as a network of immigrant, labor, legal, faith, and community organizations in Minnesota. It has since expanded to more than 110 organizations with a statewide reach. The constitutional observer program is designed to uphold constitutional protections, with trained volunteers monitoring and recording federal immigration enforcement activity to ensure rights are not violated. As thousands of ICE agents have flooded the Twin Cities, these observers have been a constant presence on the streets.

  • The IDN held its first training session in January 2026 in Rochester, Minnesota.
  • Prior to the Rochester event, the IDN had already held training sessions in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Mankato, and Duluth, as well as in Fargo, North Dakota.
  • The IDN's 'Brave of Us Tour' is planned to continue with stops across the Midwest in the coming months.

The players

Immigrant Defense Network (IDN)

A network of immigrant, labor, legal, faith, and community organizations in Minnesota that was founded in the aftermath of Donald Trump's election. The IDN has since expanded to more than 110 organizations with a statewide reach.

Edwin Torres Desantiago

The network manager of the Immigrant Defense Network, who says the need to expand the organization's training efforts was apparent due to the influx of ICE agents in Minnesota communities.

Yeng Her

The organizing director at the Immigrant Defense Network, who says the strategy for the 'Brave of Us Tour' needs to adapt as the geography changes to connect with local organizations and communities.

Macaila Eick

A Rochester resident who attended the IDN's constitutional observer training, saying she wanted to be able to answer the question of what she did during this time with pride.

Jennifer Meyer

A special education paraprofessional in Rochester who attended the training to support her students, some of whom had stopped coming to school out of fear of encountering federal agents.

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What they’re saying

“We knew with that amount of agents in our communities, we needed to quickly mobilize every corner of our state.”

— Edwin Torres Desantiago, Network Manager, Immigrant Defense Network (Sahan Journal)

“I love history, I've read a lot of World War II history. I always ask myself what would I have done? Ten, 20, 30 years from now, when people ask me 'what did you do during this time,' I want to be able to answer that question and be proud about it.”

— Macaila Eick (Sahan Journal)

“They need to be in school, and they need to have that safe space. When they feel they can't even come here because they fear they may get pulled over, detained, I can't sit here and do nothing.”

— Jennifer Meyer, Special Education Paraprofessional (Sahan Journal)

What’s next

Despite the announcement that some federal agents would be leaving Minnesota, the Immigrant Defense Network's 'Brave of Us Tour' will continue as planned, with stops across the Midwest in the coming months.

The takeaway

The Immigrant Defense Network's expansion of its constitutional observer training program across 30 cities in the Midwest underscores the growing need to protect the rights of immigrant communities as ICE presence increases in the region. The trainings empower residents to document federal immigration enforcement activity and ensure constitutional protections are upheld, serving as a crucial tool for communities to resist and respond to heightened federal operations.