Update March 19:

We’re grateful to share a new partnership between the Waite Park Sanctuary School team and Waite Park Wesleyan Church, who will be serving as our fiscal sponsor. Thank you so much for your past support—we have raised $50,000 and supported more than a dozen families since January.

Together, we are raising funds to provide rental assistance for families impacted by the recent ICE occupation across Minnesota. Over the past few months, many families have been unable to work due to fear, detention, and ongoing enforcement activity—leaving them struggling to keep up with rent and basic needs. As reported across the Twin Cities, families have faced prolonged job loss and housing instability, with many now at risk of eviction because they could not safely go to work. While some enforcement activity has decreased, the financial impact remains. Families are still recovering from months without income, and they need continued support to stay housed and regain stability.

Your support will go directly toward helping families cover rent during this critical recovery period. We are looking to raise an additional $30,000 to continue our support in May and beyond.

Please consider donating and sharing. Together, we can help keep our neighbors safely housed and supported.

Update February 15: ICE is still here.

After providing rent, utility, and grocery assistance to more than a dozen families in February, we are preparing to do the same for March. These families are still vulnerable; a potential drawdown in federal operators in the weeks to come does not make up for lost wages over the past 3 months of occupation. We need your help to close the gap!

We are asking you to help raise an additional $15,000 before February 25. These funds are directly distributed to address pressing housing and food costs.

We are so grateful for the incredible outpouring of support — more than $35,000 in the past month is amazing. Please continue to share this fundraiser amongst your networks. We will close this fundraiser when the $15,000 is secured, and we will announce a new effort to support Waite Park neighbors for the coming months in early March. Thank you for your collective effort and kindness.

Update February 12: While Border Czar Homan reported a drawdown this morning, deeming Operation Metro Surge to be a "success" and "complete,” we cannot be certain of our neighbors’ safety until all ICE agents are gone. Our elementary school community continues to buy/deliver groceries and cover rent and utility costs for families unable to leave their homes. Our children are missing their classmates who are learning remotely. Our neighbors will continue to be affected by the surge, and trust will have to be rebuilt before families return to "normal" life.

Media attention will continue to diminish, but the daily ICE presence remains. We need more funds to ensure we can continue helping our affected families through March. We humbly ask again for you to share our mutual aid fundraiser far and wide.

We greatly appreciate the support thus far. Our collective actions at this time matter so very much. Thank you.

Update January 30: We are opening back up to donations today to support our mission. We have used funds for direct giving to affected families for rent and utilities, and for reimbursement for groceries. We are looking to raise an additional $15,000 in anticipation of continued support in February.

Wildcat Mutual Aid will be used to assist people in our community with ANY resources needed related to the occupation of ICE forces in Minneapolis. If the funds we receive are more than needed, we will partner with other local school communities and share. All money donated will go directly to affected families. If the fundraising portal is closed, it means we have met the present fundraising capacity, but we will reopen once funds have been allocated.

Thank you in advance for sharing what you can, and please, DO NOT LOOK AWAY.

Since December 1, 2025, federal Department of Homeland Security and ICE agents have been terrorizing communities in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and greater Minnesota, in what they have entitled "Operation Metro Surge". In the "largest DHS operation" to date, ICE has not only violently detained US citizens as lawful observers, but they have detained folks with no criminal histories, and even Native Americans, the very first people, whose land was stolen to create the country we call home.

Within hours of ICE murdering Renee Good, they swarmed and attacked a local Minneapolis High School at dismissal, tackling and teargassing students. In response, Minneapolis Public Schools has offered distance learning to families. Many of our neighbors and fellow public school families are unable to leave their homes out of fear of being detained, beaten, and not allowed due process. We are compelled to help them as much as possible, because we show up for our chosen community!

Waite Park Mutual Aid (WPC + WPSS)