| Dear Neighbor,
We continue to experience chaos in our city at the hands of the federal government under the guise of immigration enforcement and protecting the public. Their goal is intimidation and we will not falter in our support and protection of our immigrant communities. I have received an overwhelming amount of contact by phone, e-mail, and in person from you sharing your fears, frustration, difficulties, and righteous anger- I’m with you and am feeling those same emotions.
I’ve also seen a large difference in how our city is responding to this kind of uncertainty and we are literally using every department in our city in ways I have not seen before to respond to these times. From Public Works street maintenance crews to our convention center’s events planners, we have a robust emergency management operational structure and plan to help respond to safety threats and be proactive about planned demonstrations in our midst. It’s impressive. I’ll have a chance to speak a little more about it at the Fulton neighborhood meeting tomorrow evening at Pershing Park at 6:30 p.m. or you can read a thorough summary on the City website.
I have been present in conversations about what we can do, how we can advance ideas forward, and connecting people to resources and to one another. As your elected leader, I am in close communication with our City experts in the City Attorney’s Office, Communications, and the Emergency Operations Center to monitor developments, share what I am hearing from you, and receive updates to provide to you. And I’ve also been checking in with assistance groups, schools in the Ward, local scouting troops, small and Latino businesses, and our local MPD to see and hear how things are going.
This is an evolving situation and we are working together as a united City enterprise to respond in the best ways we can and some of these are more visible than others.
Per our Separation Ordinance, Minneapolis Police WILL NOT assist federal civil immigration operations—period. Officers will, however, respond to 911 calls from residents and must keep our community safe. Their sole responsibility is to safeguard the community they serve.
Thank you for the ways you are stepping up- joining response groups, delivering groceries, providing rides, donating money, and supporting impacted immigrant-owned businesses. Thank you to those that have chosen to protest in a peaceful manner. What we do together is more powerful than anyone can do individually. I am very grateful to all of you for the support you have shown right here in the 13th Ward, in Minneapolis, and in the broader metro area.
Yours In Service,
 Yesterday, the City of Minneapolis, along with the State of Minnesota and the City of Saint Paul, jointly filed a lawsuit to stop the federal government’s unlawful, unconstitutional, and dangerous federal immigration actions in our state.
We are suing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and senior federal officials responsible for directing the immigration enforcement surge in the metro area.
The lawsuit is about:
- Safeguarding the State’s and Cities’ ability to protect their communities’ well-being
- Accountability
- Basic constitutional protections that the federal government is ignoring
The lawsuit seeks to stop the Trump administration from continuing to violate the law in its immigration enforcement campaign in Minneapolis and across the state. We are asking the court for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to immediately stop the federal government’s unlawful activity in Minnesota. Federal agents have engaged in a pattern of unlawful conduct targeted to harm the public safety, health and welfare of Minnesota residents. We are also asking the Court to order federal agents to follow the U. S. Constitution, state law, and their own policies.
We are calling for an end to:
- Racial profiling
- Excessive force
- Enforcement at sensitive locations including schools, hospitals, places of worship, courthouses, playgrounds, funerals, and weddings
- Retaliation instead of de-escalation against concerned bystanders and witnesses
We are also calling for federal agents to be equipped with body-worn cameras and that they follow the U.S. Constitution, state law and their own federal policies.
The court will review our request for immediate relief. In the meantime, the City of Minneapolis will continue doing everything we can to protect public safety and support our neighbors.
 Everyone has constitutional protections — regardless of immigration status.
Before opening your door to ICE, know your rights, as recommended by the Immigrant Law Center. Remember to assert them calmly and safely. Find more Know Your Rights resources on our website.
Remember:
- ICE needs a judge-signed warrant with your name and address to enter.
- You can ask them to show you the warrant through the window or under the door.
- If there is no valid warrant, you have the right to keep your door closed.
With multiple federal agencies in town, you should be familiar with the unforms worn by City of Minneapolis employees.
Nobody in a City uniform will ever ask for your immigration status or participate with any federal immigration enforcement activity. Our officers do not wear masks to hide their identity.
We work for and with our community, not against them.
More information about the Minneapolis separation ordinance and additional resources are available on the City website.
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The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is taking action to support community in the wake of the alarming surge of immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis. Click here to learn more. |
- The City has regular communications with Minneapolis Public Schools through a number of channels, including regular interaction and communication with the Superintendent’s office.
- Currently, the City and School emergency management teams are in daily contact. That means that the City’s Emergency Management Director and the MPS Director of Emergency Management, Safety & Security are regularly communicating and coordinating together. The City has and will continue to offer our support to MPS if they have needs.
- MPS informs our Emergency Operations Center of any issues or concerns, and the City provides support as specific needs are identified.
- The City also has staff in school-based clinics who interact daily with MPS staff. Our school-based clinic staff have been trained on the City’s separation ordinance.
- The City of Minneapolis is committed to partnering with MPS to maintain safety in our schools and the safety of our kids, and we will ensure this partnership remains strong in the weeks and months ahead as we continue to navigate these challenging situations.
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