As lawless federal immigration raids continue in Minneapolis as part of Operation Metro Surge, yet another vulnerable group has been targeted: Ukrainian refugees.

We are raising funds to assist with emergency legal fees that Ukrainian refugees in Minneapolis are facing as a direct result of interactions with ICE.

This includes one man who was nearly deported (despite having all required documentation) and incurred over $5,000 in legal fees fighting his unlawful detainment.

Funds are being raised by St. Michael's and St. George's Ukrainian Orthodox Church in northeast Minneapolis, and will be distributed based on the legal needs of Ukrainian community members, regardless of religious affiliation.

A Recent Story

Just last week, a member of the Ukrainian community in Minneapolis, a legal refugee from the war in Ukraine, was driving for his job when he was stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers (ICE) and demanded to show his papers.

He complied, yet after they took his papers,passport and drivers license, these masked federal agents abducted him anyway, leaving his still-running vehicle in the street, with the door open with his billfold and personal backpack still inside.

Despite the legal documentation he had on his person giving him the right to be in this country through the end of May, the Department of Homeland Security detained him and flew him to a holding facility in Texas that day where he was held unlawfully.

The man’s wife, also a refugee from the war in Ukraine, was informed by another source of his detention and location and had to seek out emergency legal services to get him released.

Through his wife’s intervention, he was released from detainment a week later and has returned home without his documents, drivers license, or passport.

However, the legal fees they incurred have added up to more than $5,500 with more to come.

Why this man was targeted, either to meet arbitrary federal deportation goals or plain cruelty or some other reason, we’ll likely never know.

Your Community Needs Your Help

The federal government’s message has been clear: these violent and lawless operations will continue and target our most vulnerable neighbors.

These refugees came from Ukraine to flee a war. Now they’re being cruelly targeted by a federal government they were told was going to welcome and protect them.

Not only are they being intimidated and pressured to self-deport themselves back to their home country, they are being made to fear debilitating legal fees or forced deportations if they stay.

The Fund

Your donation will go to a fund managed by Saint Michael’s and Saint George’s Orthodox Church that will help reimburse and pay for legal and other costs incurred by local Ukrainian refugees as they continue to be targeted by ICE operations.

We recognize we are among many who are seeking support right now during this crisis in our city, and we thank you for your consideration.

Слава Україні!