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Shelby Rogala Professional & Organizational Development Director MNA

Shelby Rogala

Shelby Rogala has a background in adult education and community development. She is passionate about connecting community and nonprofit leaders to resources, people, and training that can help make their work easier, more effective, and even a little more joyful.

Have a Plan: Immigration Enforcement Activities and Your Nonprofit

March 10, 2026 • By: Shelby Rogala, Associate Director

As employers, community service providers, and places of gathering and belonging, nonprofit organizations in Montana should have a clear understanding of their responsibilities and rights around immigration enforcement activities. Even if directly supporting immigrant communities is not your organization’s primary mission, the widespread nature of immigration enforcement activities in the past year is a stark reminder that any part of our community can be impacted. 

This topic has been in the media less prominently in recent weeks, but with large increases in spending for immigration enforcement included in H.R. 1, the federal reconciliation bill, we anticipate that communities will continue to experience heightened enforcement activities in the months ahead. 

MNA advises all nonprofits to take the steps below to educate and prepare your leaders, staff, volunteers, and community members to understand your rights and plan of action in the event Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) knocks on your door. 

Resources and steps to take: 

  • Discuss the risks and likelihood of a visit to your organization’s offices, secondary locations, or events. As has been widely recorded, both documented and undocumented immigrants have been subject to detainment, and even Native American individuals and communities have been targeted – think broadly about the populations you regularly interact with: Do you currently directly employ or serve at-risk or immigrant communities? Do you work directly with volunteers? Are your offices or locations near public areas or community gathering points?  Do your events attract large crowds? Do you work with student, at-risk, or immigrant populations and in what capacity?  
    • If risk and likelihood of an ICE or CPB visit are low, consider reaching out to partner organizations that may have a higher risk level to offer support if needed. Then, consider building a written plan anyway. 
    • If risk and likelihood of an ICE or CBS visit are moderate to high, develop a written response plan with input from board and staff. Then, reach out to partner organizations to share and offer support.
  • Build your plan. This sample policy from Minnesota Council of Nonprofits offers a comprehensive and editable template to customize to your organization’s needs. Ask for feedback and approval from key staff, board, and leadership. 
  • Distribute your plan. Ensure staff, volunteers, and board members are aware of the plan and have read through the article linked above. If there is time, consider practicing scenarios with staff. 
  • Make sure emergency contact information for staff, volunteers, board, and clients is up to date. Consider providing employees and volunteers with family preparedness-plan information for their own planning purposes.
  • Continue building relationships and supporting organizations and aid groups providing direct support to immigrant populations in your community. 

While this list is not comprehensive, we hope it provides helpful guidance for your work in staying legal and protecting your staff and clients. We will continue to update this page as more resources become available. 

Resources to bookmark: 

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