Good morning everyone,

I’ve had the privilege of being pretty lighthearted with these newsletters — but today, I’d like to take a second to ask you to read the top story below, the ICE apprehension of a UMN student. It’s worth the read.

On city desk, Reproductive Freedom Lobby Day brings a push for a Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment. Opinions desk has a column on sorting through what is real and what is fake. Check out pieces on the new Gopher Hockey coaches, if you haven’t.

Thanks for your consideration as always.

Buenas,

Sam Hill | Managing Editor | [email protected]

Top Story

UMN student detained by ICE in January still in detention

by Nick Scibelli | Campus Reporter | Published March 25, 2026

Editor’s note: This story contains a detailed description of an ICE apprehension involving violence and distressed individuals. 

For Edwin Toalombo, studying at the University of Minnesota was a dream come true.

A freshman computer science student originally from Ecuador, Toalombo arrived in the United States on a visa in 2020 at 14 years old. Within a few years, he became fluent in English and set his sights on a scholarship to the University, which he received last year. 

“He told me, or his mother, ‘Dad, Mom, I’m going to work as hard as I can to earn a scholarship,’” Toalombo’s father, Santiago, who chose not to use his real name for fear of retaliation, said in Spanish. “He already leveled up his English, earned good grades, secured the scholarship and was very happy.”

City

Opinion

Sports