On a recent Saturday, more than one thousand individuals gathered at Roseville Lutheran Church in Minnesota for a training session organized by Monarca, aimed at educating participants on how to respond to ICE operations. This event was prompted by the shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a legal observer who was killed during an encounter with an ICE agent on January 7.

Monarca's training included instructions for attendees, primarily composed of middle-aged and elderly individuals, on how to act as 'upstander legal observers.' These observers are trained to monitor and document the activities of Department of Homeland Security officers during their operations. Participants were advised to bring items such as gas masks, sunglasses, and phone chargers, as well as a pencil, which was noted to be more reliable than a pen in cold weather.

Speakers at the event criticized ICE, labeling it a 'white supremacist police force' lacking oversight, and encouraged attendees to persistently confront agents. The training emphasized the importance of community solidarity, with participants sharing personal experiences related to ICE encounters, including fears of family members being targeted.

The session also provided practical tools, such as whistles, to alert others to ICE activities. A 12-page manual distributed to attendees outlined how to communicate with the media and emphasized the need for community safety and unity against increased militarized government actions.

Monarca, which operates under the non-profit Unidos Minnesota, has reported significant financial backing from various organizations, including Tending the Soil Minnesota and the McKnight Foundation. The group is expanding its training sessions to other cities, reflecting a growing movement to resist ICE enforcement and advocate for immigrant rights. The organization has also established a rapid response line for community members to report ICE activity and mobilize legal observers to assist those being detained.

The training sessions highlight ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the U.S., particularly in light of recent incidents that have raised concerns about the militarization of law enforcement and its impact on community safety and cohesion.