While protesters openly clash with authorities, a network of local residents has begun operating covertly to sabotage the detentions and protect the most vulnerable members of the community.
Leading this humanitarian effort is Felia Martínez, a devout Christian and former Trump supporter, who has transformed the local food bank Source MN into a critical support platform. Martínez coordinates a group of volunteers who not only supply food but also manage shelters for children whose parents have been captured by federal forces. Their work aims to prevent minors from being left unprotected or pursued amid the police chaos gripping the city.
One of the most dramatic cases recorded is that of Melida Rita Wampash Tuntuam, a mother of Ecuadorian origin who was detained earlier this month. Following her capture, federal agents began pursuing her children, prompting Martínez's network to intervene in an emergency. Currently, the eight children of the family, which consists of a total of ten members, are taking refuge in a safe house in southern Minneapolis. The distress among the minors is profound; the older siblings have expressed deep fear at the possibility of being separated from their youngest brother, a baby of just five months old.
This civil resistance movement underscores the social divide in Minnesota, where citizens are prioritizing family unity and the protection of children over federal guidelines.