Students from Minnesota Spoke About Immigration at L'Taken Lobby Day

A group of students from Bet Shalom Congregation in Minnetonka, Minnesota chose to speak about immigration. The following piece is adapted from the speech Jackson M., Miles L., Nathan F., and Olin N. gave on Monday.

Before we start, we would like to note that this is a very difficult time for our community. Since Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot, there has been outrage throughout our entire city. This has greatly affected our community, which is why we chose to speak on this topic.

Our country was built on the idea of freedom, and right now, not everyone can be free while living here. When this country began, there were people who came here from many different places and cultures, and they built this country to be what it is today. I know our families and a lot of other families are here due to immigration. Now, people aren't even free to go to the most important places, such as schools, hospitals, and places of worship, because of the massive presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in our country. It feels wrong that people have to feel fear while worshipping at religious services, going to school, or receiving medical care. This fear is due to the fact that the protected locations policy was rolled back in January 2025, the policy had been in place for decades. Even in my school, because of ICE, I have friends who don't feel safe attending classes in person because of the color of their skin.

The Jewish texts imbue a central idea of B'tzelem Elohim, which translates to 'made in the image of god.' This correlates to the central issue of immigration, since the majority of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's activities involve mass discrimination and prejudice. The unequal treatment is directly against our Jewish ideas that everyone should be valued and respected equally. This idea is furthered through the common and historical persecution of Jews. We are fortunate enough to not be fearful of expulsion or prejudice, but many other Jews throughout history have. When we see people illegally detained, or murdered publicly, it plants a drive to create and advocate for change.

My mom is a teacher in St. Paul Public Schools and teaches social studies at Como Park High School. Throughout my life, my mom has always been devoted not only to teaching her students academically, but also making sure they are well cared for emotionally and physically. For example, when I was in elementary school, every night before my mom would go to school, she and I would march down to our local grocery store and get baked goods that were going to be thrown out to give to her students who didn't have enough food to eat. At the high school where she teaches currently, there is a very large population of students of color. Thus, it didn't surprise me that when ICE began raiding a school near hers, she was immediately frightened for the well-being of her students. Her first call to action was to teach every single one of her students what to do if ICE starts questioning them. Next, she began bringing large amounts of food to her school because most of her students were too scared to go to the grocery store, so they were starving. Over the past few weeks, seven different families in her school have been detained by ICE. Now, her school is preparing to offer online options for students who don't feel safe coming to school. Now, STOP, think about how absurd that statement is. No child under any circumstances should have to worry about being detained while they are trying to learn. In fact, in Plyer V. Doe the Supreme Court ruled that all children have access to K-12 education, regardless of immigration status. Learning is a human prerogative, and by sending ICE agents to a school, this country is inhibiting their entitlement to exercise their basic human rights.

These students ended their meeting by asking (or thanking) their Senators and Representatives to support the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act. The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (S.455/H.R. 1061) would reinstate the DHS policy and expand sensitive location protections to a broader range of educational and medical facilities, federal and state courthouses, DMVs and social security offices, facilities (such as rape crisis and homeless shelters) that provide essential social services, and more.

"As representatives of Bet Shalom Congregation," the students concluded, "we want people to feel safe within our walls." Jackson, Miles, Nathan, and Olin demonstrated what it looks like to turn Jewish learning into moral action. At L'Taken, they did more than lobby; they bore witness, demanded dignity, and called on our leaders to ensure that schools, hospitals, houses of worship, and other essential spaces remain in places of safety, not fear. May their courage inspire us to keep showing up, keep speaking out, and keep working toward a country where everyone can truly feel safe within our walls.