LSP & Our Immigrant Neighbors

At the Land Stewardship Project, we center our work around our shared values of Stewardship, Justice, Fairness, Democracy, Health, and Community.

The kind of world we are trying to create is one in which all people — no matter their age, race, gender, or immigration status — can live safe and productive lives and contribute to their communities. Fostering opportunities for emerging farmers and partnering with immigrant-focused farming organizations have long been part of LSP’s work.

As a rural organization working toward our mission of promoting an ethic of stewardship for farmland, sustainable agriculture and healthy communities, it is important that LSP speak up on immigration issues. We depend upon immigrants to contribute to a robust food and agriculture economy in this country. We will not have a sustainable farm and food system until it is sustainable for everyone.

As a social justice organization, LSP must speak clearly for the dignity of all people when faced with proposals that impact human rights in agriculture. LSP is working closely with partners who are on the ground in immigrant communities, including co-facilitating the Greater Minnesota caucus of the Immigrant Defense Network. This is an important issue to many LSP members and supporters, whether they are recent immigrants to the U.S., employers of immigrants, family, neighbors, or allies.

The situation continues to evolve, and we know people want concrete ways to support their communities. As a starting point, we have gathered the resources below.

For Immigrants

• Recursos Legales de inmigracion: Legal Resources for Immigration — law offices and organizations compiled by Advocates for Human Rights.
• Article from the Sahan Journal on knowing your rights as an immigrant and what to do during an encounter with U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
• Red Cards: Available in multiple languages; these can be slid under the door to communicate your rights.

For Allies

• Toolkit from the National Immigration Law Center for responding to mass workplace raids, like the ones that happened in the latter years of President Donald Trump’s first term.
• UNIDOS-MN is offering raid response trainings for allies: sign up here to learn about dates and locations.

For Farmers

• Hiring Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers: a web page created by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for farmers seeking to employ immigrant workers.

For Institutions

• Minnesota Attorney General’s Guidance on Legal Responsibilities for Minnesota Schools Regarding Federal Immigration Policy

Immigrants & the U. S. Economy

• The Importance of Immigrant Labor to the US Economy
• New Data Analysis: Immigrants Driving Opportunity, Prosperity in the U.S., Including in Swing States
• Explainer: Immigrants and the U.S. Economy
• Tax Payments by Undocumented Immigrants

Want to Get Involved?

Interested in additional resources and ways to show up? Sign up for LSP’s racial justice hotlist to stay connected to this and other aspects of our work.

Last updated 2/14/2025