Legislative & Victories

Fe y Justicia is proud to be featured in a case study by Propel Nonprofits, highlighting our journey of organizational growth, financial sustainability, and commitment to empowering Latino and immigrant communities across Central Minnesota. For nearly two decades, Fe y Justicia has worked alongside community members to advance immigrant and workers' rights, develop grassroots leadership, and create lasting change through collective action. Strengthening Our Foundation As our

October 15, 2026 | News & Recognition Fe y Justicia is proud to announce that our organization has been selected as a 2026 Bush Prize: Minnesota honoree, receiving a $250,000 unrestricted award in recognition of our commitment to immigrant families, community leadership, and grassroots organizing across Central Minnesota. Presented through a partnership between the Bush Foundation and the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, the Bush Prize recognizes organizations developing cr

June 2025 | News & Recognition Fe y Justicia proudly celebrates its founder and Executive Director, Ma Elena Gutiérrez, on being selected as a 2025 Bush Fellow by the Bush Foundation. This recognition honors her dedication to immigrant rights, community leadership, and building collective power across Central Minnesota. Originally from rural Mexico, Ma Elena brings personal experience and a deep understanding of the challenges immigrant workers face. Since founding Fe y Justi

No worker should have to choose between their health and their paycheck. Minnesota's Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) law represents an important step toward protecting workers and supporting families across the state. Effective January 1, 2024, the law requires Minnesota employers to provide eligible employees with paid sick and safe time. Under the law, employees earn at least one hour of paid sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours each year, unless th

Every worker deserves a safe, healthy, and respectful workplace. For many working-class and immigrant families in Central Minnesota, the meat and poultry processing industry provides important employment opportunities. However, these jobs can also involve challenging conditions and serious workplace safety risks. In 2023, Minnesota passed the Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act, creating additional protections for workers in qualifying meat and poultry

Strong communities depend on trust, communication, and mutual respect. For immigrant families, establishing positive relationships with local public safety agencies is an important part of creating communities where everyone feels respected and heard. One of the local achievements Fe y Justicia is especially proud of is the development of community policing agreements involving community members and local sheriff's offices and police departments. These agreements help define

Access to affordable health care is essential to building healthy families and strong communities. In 2023, Minnesota made an important commitment toward health equity by approving legislation that expanded MinnesotaCare eligibility to undocumented residents who met the program's requirements. The expansion took effect on January 1, 2025, opening a pathway to health coverage for immigrant families who had previously been excluded because of their immigration status. For Fe y

On March 7, 2023, Minnesota took an important step toward greater inclusion when Governor Tim Walz signed the Driver’s License for All law. The legislation went into effect on October 1, 2023, allowing Minnesota residents to apply for a standard driver’s license regardless of immigration status. For immigrant families, access to a driver’s license means more than the ability to drive. It represents greater independence, safer transportation, and opportunities to participate i