David Brancaccio

In Los Angeles, I'm David Brancaccio, and we're from APM, American Public Media.

Business is caught in the immigration crackdown.

I'm David Brancaccio in Los Angeles.

Following deadly shootings by immigration agents in Minnesota, more than 60 CEOs there have now signed and sent a letter calling for federal, state, and local officials to de-escalate.

Now, this is a turnabout.

Last week here, we had discussed so many Minnesota business leaders staying quiet amid the situation.

Among the CEOs who put their names on this new letter, William Brown of 3M, Corey Berry of Best Buy, General Mills' Jeff Harmoning, and Target's incoming chief executive, Michael Fidelke.

Advocates for stricter border enforcement argue the policies over time could mean better jobs for legal workers, but in Minnesota, some businesses have closed or reduced hours, with employees and customers concerned about getting caught up in raids and protests.

Kirstie Marone is a correspondent with Minnesota Public Radio, same company as us.

She's been reporting from St.

Cloud, population 70,000, a city that includes a large Somali-American population.

Hi, Kirstie.

Hi, David.

Thanks for having me.

You've been going into businesses facing immigration searches and detentions.

What are you hearing?

13-hour days.

Is that sustainable?

I mean, not every business could pull those hours off longer term.

Minnesota Public Radio reporter Kirstie Marone in St.