Anti-ICE Protest Safety for Trans People

About this episode

The episode discusses safety for trans people opposing ICE, featuring insights from legal and community experts.

The deadly immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, where local communities put themselves on the frontline to resist what amounts to an occupation, has led to trans and queer people being violently detained and retraumatized. Minnesota is where things have boiled over now, but it’s far from the only place where this remains a continual threat. Today, Imara is joined by two guests to think through what safety for trans people who want to oppose ICE can look like. First up is Jess Braverman, the Legal Director of Gender Justice, a Minnesota-based organization dedicated to fighting back against the legal and structural barriers that trans people face in the Midwest and beyond. Then, Imara chats with Seal Dwyer, a therapist and community organizer from St. Cloud, Minnesota, about the ways queer people can step up for other marginalized communities. This week’s trans joy features trans-owned adult retail shop Smitten Kitten in Minneapolis, which has transformed its space into a donation center for community members in need.  Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org  Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok , Instagram…

People in this episode

Host: Imara Jones

Guests: Jess Braverman, Seal Dwyer

Topics covered

• immigration
• trans safety
• protest
• community support
• queer activism

Keywords

• ICE
• trans people
• protest safety
• Minnesota
• queer community
• immigration enforcement
• Gender Justice
• Smitten Kitten

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Gender Justice, Smitten Kitten

Places: Minnesota, St. Cloud, Minnesota, Minneapolis

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• Resourcing Trans Dreams · May 21, 2026 · 49 min
• Trans Art Under Attack · May 14, 2026 · 57 min
• Rep. Leigh Finke Is Fighting from the Inside · May 7, 2026 · 33 min