My passport may be stored, but my family's immigration story remains part of Minnesota life

A Minnesota writer traces several generations of Swedish, Norwegian and German immigrant ancestors who built businesses, served in the CCC and World War II, and preserved cultural traditions while reflecting on how those histories relate to current debates and reported harm directed at new immigrants.

My passport is kept in a bank safety box, but memories of my family's immigration are part of daily life. The writer recounts several generations who arrived from Sweden, Norway and Germany and settled in small Minnesota towns. Those relatives ran local businesses, served in the Civilian Conservation Corps and the U.S. military, and helped build lasting community institutions. The piece links these personal histories to contemporary debates about birthright citizenship, assimilation and reported harm toward new immigrants. Key details: - The author's maternal grandfather, Carl Johnson, was born in Sweden in 1871 and came to the United States as a child. - In the 1920s the author's grandparents owned and improved a rural telephone exchange, serving surrounding farm families. - Family members served in the CCC and fought in World War II, and one paternal great-grandfather, Heinrich Schröder, became a naturalized citizen after arriving from Hanover. - The Schroeder family later helped build what is now American Heritage National Bank, which remains family-managed and family-owned across generations. - The family maintains cultural traditions such as Norwegian-language church services, lutefisk at Christmas, lefse, and flying a Norwegian flag on Syttende Mai. Summary: The writer draws a throughline between multi-generational immigrant contributions — from local business and banking to military service — and present questions about who is considered "American" and how cultural practices are judged. This reflection is presented in the context of recent reports of anger and harm directed at new immigrants. Undetermined at this time.