Minnesota Volunteers Help 100+ ICE Detainees Find Their Way Home

A mother's observation outside a Minneapolis detention center sparked a volunteer movement that's helped over a hundred people find their way home in freezing temperatures.

Sarah Haraldson brought her sons to the Whipple Building in Minneapolis six weeks ago to hand out snacks and water to protesters. Her older son noticed something troubling: people were being released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention without coats, phones, or any way to get home in the Minnesota winter.

That night, they invited strangers to warm up in their car and learned this was standard practice. Within hours, Haven Watch was born.

The volunteer group now maintains a steady presence outside the facility, offering released detainees burner phones, warm clothing, rides home, and whatever else they need to reconnect with their families. They've also started collecting donations for food, car seats, and even rental assistance to help people get back on their feet.

"I have had more grown men cry in my car in the last week than anyone should see," Haraldson shared. The emotional toll on detainees is visible regardless of how long they were held or why.

Why This Inspires

For Haraldson, this work carries deep personal meaning. She has a 20-year-old son adopted from Ethiopia as a baby who is now a naturalized citizen. Her fear that he could be detained based solely on appearance drives her commitment to ensuring no one faces that vulnerable moment alone.

The volunteers say their presence at the gate remains as necessary now as it was on day one. While detention tactics have evolved and some people are being held longer, the stream of individuals being released without basic resources hasn't slowed.

Josh Wabaunsee, another Haven Watch volunteer, notes that despite reports of agent drawdowns elsewhere, they haven't seen evidence of reduced activity in Minnesota. The need for their compassionate presence continues.

What started as one family offering warmth in their car has grown into a coordinated effort supported by community donations and dozens of volunteers. They show up every day because they know someone on the other side of that gate will need help finding their way home.

Haven Watch proves that ordinary people noticing a problem and taking action can create extraordinary change, one ride home at a time.