Episode 161: Operation Metro Surge Convo with the co-hosts of "Mama You Belong" Podcast
About this episode
Marsh Naidoo discusses Operation Metro Surge with Kirsten DesMarias and Molly Hilgenberg, co-hosts of the 'Mama You Belong' podcast, highlighting immigration issues and human rights concerns.
In today’s episode, I chat with Kirsten DesMarias and Molly Hilgenberg, co-hosts of the podcast” Mama You Belong.” Kirsten and Molly live in Minnesota and are here to create an awareness of what is happening with regard to Operation Metro Surge. This episode was recorded Feb 9, 2026 and on Feb 12, 2026, Tom Homan who is leading Operation Metro Surge after Greg Bivino’s removal, reported that “immigration enforcement operation was winding down”, there however remains scepticism that this is happening (1) In the meantime, ICE detention facilities are growing at an alarming rate and as off mid January are reported 73 000 individuals in detention (2). There are emerging allegations of human rights violations, including children in Dilley, TX (3), and 32 reported deaths in detention in 2025 (4) Timeline of the Conversation: 1:41 Mama You Belong origin story 4:02 What is happening in MN in the Winter 2026? 5:12 Primary Source 1: Mom of Two 10:32 Men in Masks 18:37 Primary Source 2: Mom from Minnesota 21:00 Language matters: Protestors are not Domestic Terrorists 21:37 The Constitution and the First Amendment 22:00 What is happening in ICE detention centers? 25:35 When parents become…
People in this episode
Host: Marsh Naidoo
Guests: Kirsten DesMarias, Molly Hilgenberg
Topics covered
- immigration enforcement
- human rights
- family
- community aid
- political awareness
Keywords
- Operation Metro Surge
- immigration
- human rights violations
- ICE detention
- community support
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Power of the Powerless
Places: Minnesota, Dilley, TX
More episodes of Raising Kellan
- Episode 167: Heart of Champions VBS - June 8-12, 2026 at Roellen Baptist Church in Dyersburg, Tennessee
- Episode 166. Voting and Redistricting of Tennessee Congressional Maps with Rachel Lovell - Weakley County Election Commissioner
- Episode 164: ( 7 min epsiode) Thriving Caregivers - 4/18/26 Dyersburg TN
- Episode 163: Operation Metro Surge, Minneapolis MN with Journalist, Kyndell Harkness.
- Episode 162. Michaela Barnett, running for Tennessee's 2nd congressional district in 2026
- Episode 160: "The Pantry" at St Johns Community Services
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