St. Paul grocer adds free delivery amid ICE fears
Bymore Mercado, a grocery store in St. Paul, says it lost about 75% of its customers within days of the federal immigration crackdown that began Dec. 1 in the Twin Cities, after many patrons — including U.S. citizens and legal residents — became afraid to leave home and risk encountering ICE agents. In response, the store launched a free delivery service with volunteer drivers and is using roughly $8,000 raised on GoFundMe to cover groceries for customers who cannot pay, pledging to continue the program as long as needed.
📌 Key Facts
- Bymore Mercado in St. Paul reports a 75% drop in customers shortly after the Dec. 1 immigration enforcement surge in the Twin Cities.
- The store created its own free delivery service, taking phone and online orders and using volunteers to bring groceries directly to customers’ homes, with no limits on order size or frequency.
- A GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $8,000, allowing the store to provide groceries at no cost to customers who cannot afford them, while a posted sign warns ICE agents not to enter.
📊 Relevant Data
In Operation Metro Surge starting December 1, 2025, ICE arrested criminal noncitizens in the Twin Cities, focusing on those with prior convictions allowed to remain due to sanctuary policies.
ICE Arrests Worst of the Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens During Operation Metro Surge — DHS.gov
In 2022, 18.6% of St. Paul's population was foreign-born, with the rate decreasing over time, and the city's racial composition including 53.21% White, 16.22% Black, 0.66% American Indian, and significant Asian and Hispanic populations.
St. Paul, MN | Data USA — Data USA
Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the United States as of 2023 and the second-largest Hmong population as of 2025, contributing to its diverse immigrant communities.
Immigrants in Minnesota - Minnesota Issues Resources Guides — Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
Immigrants in Minnesota, including undocumented ones, have lower crime rates than U.S.-born citizens, with studies showing undocumented immigrants are less likely to commit crimes nationally and in states like Texas.
Immigrants contribute approximately $26 billion to Minnesota's economy, supporting local businesses and helping to make the economy healthy and affordable.
Economist: Immigrants contribute $26 billion to Minnesota's economy — MPR News
Historically, Minnesota established a Board of Immigration in 1867 to promote immigration to the state, spurred by the Homestead Act and to attract settlers for farmland and industrial growth.
A history of immigrants and refugees in Minnesota — MinnPost
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