Liberators in Action: Minnesota Tow Truck Drivers

It was just a couple of months ago that the ICE invasion of Minnesota shocked our country and the world.  Fear swept through the Twin Cities as federal immigration raids raged through neighborhoods, separating families and hauling breadwinners off to detention. Cars were left sitting where they had been pulled over, on city streets, in parking lots, sometimes for days.

But across the Twin Cities, neighbors, churches, and community groups gathered food and supplies, and businesses stepped in to help struggling families stay afloat. In a city known for its culture of service, people found ways, big and small, to stand beside those who were frantic and grief-stricken.

Among them were a handful of tow truck drivers who became liberators. When immigration arrests left vehicles abandoned across the metro area, owners often faced towing fees and impound charges, expenses that families already under strain simply couldn’t afford. So Juan Leon, who had recently started Leo’s Tow in West St. Paul, and his small crew decided to do something about it.

“Seeing there was a need for someone to help out… to get the people back their vehicles,” Leon said, “we stepped up and started doing it.”

Leon and his drivers began searching for abandoned cars and returning them directly to families, often free of charge. Sometimes relatives would call in a panic, trying to locate a loved one’s car before the city impounded it. Other times, the tow crew tracked the vehicles themselves and secretly delivered them back to a driveway or safe spot.

For Gonzalo Villegas, the work was emotional but deeply meaningful. “To see the smile on their face, even through tears, makes me feel good,” he said. “At least I’m doing something for the cause.”

Another company, Galeana’s Towing, joined in as well, offering free or sharply discounted tows because the situation felt personal. Many immigrant families had supported their business for years. “It feels good just helping out, getting their car and bringing it back to them,” said manager Jason Arce. “It’s one less worry that they have to worry about.”

Juan Leon’s crew alone returned hundreds of vehicles, although the work wasn’t without risk. Leon says he received threats after his personal information was posted online. Still, his trucks kept rolling.

The liberators of the Twin Cities came as food deliverers, shelter providers, and spiritual servants. And they also came as tow truck drivers pulling into driveways and returning a piece of stability to families that lost almost everything.