Statement of Solidarity (view .pdf here)

December 10, 2025

Last week, the president again used hateful rhetoric to try to sow fear and distrust of immigrant, refugee and asylum-seeking communities, this time focusing on our Somali American colleagues, friends, and neighbors living in Minnesota. The language being used by the Trump administration is wrong, harmful, and in direct conflict with the values of the Minnesota Public Health Association (MPHA). MPHA remains committed to health equity, racial justice, and ensuring that all Minnesotans — regardless of country of origin — feel safe, valued, and respected.

All immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers - our association members, our families, friends, and neighbors, and the communities we serve - deserve to be seen with dignity, not labeled with harmful and othering language. 

As an association, we recognize that statements alone are not action. However, silence does not encourage change. As we continue to stand in solidarity, consider the following opportunities to show support and to sustain your work in advancing the public’s health and wellbeing.

• Show compassion, recognizing the clients and community members you serve through your work may be more concerned about attending meetings or receiving services;

• Amplify the counter narrative and voices of immigrants and refugees who are actively demonstrating the absurdity and inaccuracy of these discriminatory, reductionist labels;

• Provide accurate data to disarm and discredit disinformation and inaccurate statements;

• Take time for self-care and practices that are restorative, particularly if you are carrying the emotional toll of being targeted or harmed by recent and ongoing rhetoric;

• Consider attending constitutional observer training (such as from COPAL, Indivisible Twin Cities, or Immigrant Defense Network) to better understand immigrant rights and the roles citizens can play to observe and document to ensure these rights are upheld. Learn about additional resources from the MN Council Nonprofits: Solidarity with our immigrant neighbors - Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.

In solidarity,  

The MPHA Governing Council