Police officers on patrol after declaring unlawful assembly, as demonstrators gathered outside a hotel they believe is being used by federal agents, amid increased immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., February 5, 2026. REUTERS/Seth Herald
PETALING JAYA: For Sarah Ng, a 30-year-old Malaysian professional living in southern Minneapolis, a major city in the state of Minnesota, for the past decade, her daily routine was simple: driving to work and back home.
Today, that routine involves a terrifying mental checklist. Is her phone charged? How long is she going to be out for? And most importantly, is her green card with her?
(A green card is an identity document that permits a foreigner to live and work in the United States permanently.)
“My husband now handles most of the errands outside the house, partly because there is fear of drawing unwanted attention based on how I look.
“I was stopped once in August last year, and the officer checked my green card to confirm my legal status. At the time, it felt limited and not especially frightening, but the overall climate now feels more intense.
“I experience more anxiety leaving the house than I ever did in years past,” said Ng.
Ng is one of the many Malaysians in Minnesota living in a state of heightened anxiety as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents ramp up operations to arrest undocumented migrants.
Like other Malaysians that The Star spoke to, Ng requested the use of a pseudonym out of concern for safety and privacy.
Ng lives just 3.2km away from the fatal shooting of Renee Good on Jan 6, and nurse Alex Pretti on Jan 24, by ICE agents.
According to Ng, she always checks local community updates about ICE enforcement activities because she wants to avoid stressful situations.
“On top of that, the community has been on edge about immigration enforcement in the area,” she said.
Fortunately, Ng said people in her community are looking out for each other, where neighbours are sharing alerts on ICE activities with each other.
“At my child’s daycare, people have also stepped up to support staff and help create a sense of safety, especially for employees who are Spanish-speaking or not confident in English.
“Parents are now taking shifts to stand guard outside the daycare to warn and protect employees if ICE tries to enter the building,” she said.
“Even when people are legally employed, language barriers can make interactions feel risky and there is real fear of being misunderstood or detained unnecessarily,” she added.
John Lee, a 35-year-old Malaysian who lives 10km from Minneapolis, said he has been careful when stepping out of the house following increased ICE enforcement and the killing of Pretti and Good.
“I have heightened senses when stepping out of the house and these past few weeks, I have been staying home most of the time, and only going out if it is necessary,” he said.
Lee also said that whenever he sees larger vehicles passing by his neighbourhood, he becomes more alert and stressful.
“When I see a law enforcement SUV, my heart stops. I am not a criminal,” said Lee.
For Malaysians who want to go to the United States, Lee said they should expect more questions being asked at the airport and more physical checks on luggage.
“Be mindful of where you are going in the United States and make sure to have your documents along with backup copies.
“Make sure to think of what you can do when the worst happens,” added Lee.
Anne Tan, 34, a Malaysian who has been living in Minneapolis for the past 12 years, said increased ICE enforcement has made her fearful of leaving the house without her husband.
“For the first time in over a decade, I brought my green card wherever I go,” Tan said, adding that sightings of ICE agents remained high in Minnesota.
“The Trump administration may have promised to remove 700 federal enforcement officers on Feb 4, but I still see many ICE officers in my neighbourhood,” said Tan.
On Feb 4, the Department of Homeland Security said it arrested more than 4,000 illegals since it began operations in Minnesota.
The Human Resources Ministry said there are 79,827 Malaysians who are living in the United States as of 2022, citing data from TalentCorp and the World Bank.
