Social Work’s Response to Community and National Crisis: Lessons Learned and Questions Raised from Minnesota

Political unrest and community crises create complex arenas for social work intervention. Grounded in ethical commitments to social justice and human rights, social workers are mandated to challenge unjust policies and practices that perpetuate marginalization (Dominelli, 2012; Healy, 2008). In times of national crisis, such as war, pandemics, or acute political unrest practitioners engage across multiple spheres, providing therapeutic and humanitarian support for individuals and communities, and navigating the broader impacts on community members, institutions and care systems.

“Operation Metro Surge,” which took place in Minnesota between December 2025 and March 2026 (and continues to manifest in various ways), provides an unprecedented and timely arena to explore social work’s response. The operation led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), included over 3,000 arrests, the detention of U.S. citizens, and multiple fatalities involving federal agents. Reports and investigations further document the use of force—including shootings, physical assaults, and chemical agents—alongside widespread accounts of intimidation, producing lasting trauma, fear, and erosion of trust across immigrant and non-immigrant communities alike. The surge caused widespread trauma and social-economic disruptions, triggering community-led resistance ranging from mutual aid to strikes (https://www.mprnews.org/ice-in-minnesota).

The Ice surge had a direct and immense impact on social work service recipients and practitioners across all sectors. Positioned at the intersection of community well-being, federal policy, and institutional response, social workers have been required to navigate conflicting professional, ethical, and organizational demands amidst a volatile political climate. This roundtable explores how social workers and researchers are addressing this specific moment in history, moving beyond immediate crisis intervention to set goals and paths for future practice and research.

In this roundtable, panelists will share findings from current research exploring individual and institutional responses to the surge. Key areas of discussion include:

• Insights from Minnesota practitioners on the front lines of the crisis - research findings and participant observations will be shared.
• Navigating the tensions between legal mandates and professional ethics during political unrest. Acts of resistance alongside instances of compliance will be discussed.
• Social workers roles and involvement in profession-based activism and community response - mutual aid efforts, involvement in protests, voicing a professional response.
• Addressing professional risks faced by social workers in high-conflict environments, including licensure concerns, job protections, and variations across states.
• Comparison to other professions and the role unions played in organizing resistance, such as teachers and nurses.
• Examining the role of social work institutions in providing pathways for profession-based activism and best-practice guidance. The roles of national and local institutions such as The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and The Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) will be discussed.

The session will conclude by proposing a future research agenda concerning social work practice in the context of national and community crisis, focusing on how the profession can sustain its commitment to human rights during periods of political uncertainty, systemic instability and democratic backsliding.