Minnesota Bets on ‘Neighborism’ to Rebuild Tourism After ICE Crackdown

Minneapolis was once again thrown into the national spotlight this year after an immigration crackdown prompted protests, thousands of arrests, and the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens.

But heartwarming headlines emerged amid the chaos. Stories of residents holding food drives and donating winter coats to those released from federal custody, or delivering groceries and  laundry to families too afraid to leave their homes. 

Headlines like these helped inspire Explore Minnesota’s latest campaign, “Come Visit Your Neighbors in Minnesota.” The hope is that the state’s friendly reputation can help dig it out of the tourism slump fueled by ICE’s presence.

“We really felt like it was a moment for us to take all the things that have happened and reintroduce Minnesota to the world,” said Lauren Bennett McGinty, Explore Minnesota’s executive director. “We as Minnesotans wanted to help tell our story so people could see who we really