Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham headlines mobile billboard events highlighting financial burden of ICE on southern Minnesota taxpayers

As federal officials invest in mass deportations and help billionaires rake in more profits, and more Minnesotans struggle to balance everyday essentials, the Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham and advocates gathered for mobile billboard events in Mankato and Rochester calling attention to the human and financial impact of ICE activity. Burnham and advocates amplified a new calculator developed by the Economic Policy Institute, which found taxpayers in Southern Minnesota could pay $374 million to fund ICE operations, or $1,520 per taxpayer. Advocates held Trump and federal leaders accountable for putting the costs of mass deportations on working people while helping the ultra-wealthy receive higher tax breaks.


Mankato Free Press: Minnesota AFL-CIO argues ICE funding could instead go back to communities
 
“‘The Big Beautiful Bill (slashed) funding for things people rely on, such as public education, healthcare, hospitals, first responders and more,’ Burnham said. ‘One of the few areas that received an increase in funding was a mass deportation agenda that brought terror to neighborhoods across Minnesota, took away hard working people from our communities and separated children from their parents.’
 
“Burnham was more specific about what $374 million could pay for in the 1st District. ‘It could pay for more than 1,200 new teachers, 2,000 more firefighters, medical care for nearly 7,000 veterans or more than 22,000 affordable housing units.’”


Rochester Post-Bulletin: Billboard highlight ICE actions' monetary costs to Minnesotans
 
“Earlier this year, Axios reported the administration is slated to spend more than $268 billion on deportation efforts through 2029. Axios says those dollars include spending in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, budget reconciliation bills, general appropriations and other funds.
EPI's calculator breaks down those dollars by state, and it's estimated that the funding will cost Olmsted County residents nearly $133 million, or just over $2,000 per taxpayer. Across the region, it's estimated to cost around $374 million, or $1,520 per taxpayer.
‘Is this really where we want our resources going?’ said Ren Olive, president of Minnesota Association of Professional Employees Local 2001.”
Public News Service: Economic pain in MN linked to ICE enforcement becomes clearer
“Bernie Burnham, president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, said there were many examples of workers who were either wrongfully detained or afraid to report to their job.
‘We lose what they give back to their communities. And many have lived here for 20-plus years and all of a sudden, they're being taken out of their communities, which means a loss of income for their families and a loss in taxes for their communities,’ Burnham pointed out.
In fact, the October report, based on earlier research by Chloe East and Elizabeth Cox, said most of the job losses here were felt by U.S.-born workers. Separately, the Economic Policy Institute said Minnesota taxpayers are contributing $4 billion in new funding for ICE enforcement. It noted the money could cover the cost of 15,000 teachers, 24,000 firefighters and other needs.”
This campaign will also feature a radio tour and other activities in Rochester, Mankato, and across Minnesota’s 1st congressional district. 

You can watch the Mankato event here, and the Rochester event here. 

Learn more about how mass deportations impact communities across Minnesota here.