Mesa Pizza Will Close Thursday In Trump Protest

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A local, popular pizza chain will be closing all three of its locations Thursday in protest of the Trump administration's immigration policies.

On Thursday, all three Minneapolis branches of Mesa Pizza will be closed.

"We are joining the nationwide 'day without immigrants' movement happening that day, as we want to show our solidarity with everyone who is potentially affected by the current presidential administration's policies towards immigrants," the restaurant said in a statement.

Immigrants in the Twin Cities and across the country plan to participate in the "Day Without Immigrants" boycott Feb. 16, aiming to show President Donald Trump the important role immigrants have in the United States.

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"Immigrants of all kinds make this country run," the restaurant continued.

"They have names, hopes, dreams, fears, and virtually all are so grateful to be here in the United States, a nation built on immigration. Many have families here, deeply-rooted lives, and we are horrified to think that, for example, parents could be arrested and taken away while their children are at school, simply because of their immigration status."

"We love our customers and thank you all very much for your patronage of Mesa Pizza, and hope you will understand why we are joining this movement. We will reopen Friday at our respective branches' normal times, and regular hours will resume from then on," the restaurant said.

Immigration in Minnesota

Minnesota's first large groups of immigrants arrived from Europe, primarily Norway, Sweden, and Germany. Today, the majority of Minnesota's immigrants arrive from Mexico. Minnesota's current immigrant population is growing at a faster pace than the national average, according to the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.

A contributing factor is the large number of refugees that have settled in the state. Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the United States, as well as the second largest United States Hmong population. The Somali refugees began coming to Minnesota in the early 1990s after the collapse of the government resulted in extreme violence.

Hmong people began arriving in Minnesota in the mid-1970s, when the country of Laos was taken over by communist powers.

In 2013, state lawmakers passed the Minnesota Dream Act (also known as the Minnesota Prosperity Act), which makes certain undocumented students eligible for in-state tuition rates and provides them the opportunity to apply for state financial aid.

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