In a move that subtly defines the city's stance on federal immigration enforcement, Minneapolis has recently codified an executive order issued by Mayor Frey into its separation ordinance. As reported by the official City of Minneapolis website, new measures are set in place to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from utilizing City-owned lots and ramps, effectively disallowing stage operations for immigration enforcement within the city’s domain.
The updated ordinance goes a step further, also mandating routine reports to the Mayor and City Council, alongside revised training for city employees. These steps are taken to ensure the Mayor's order is staunchly adhered to, aiming to fully separate the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) from federal immigration crackdowns. However, as emphasized by the city’s communication, what remains unchanged is the commitment that MPD will continue to protect the safety of all individuals, irrespective of their immigration status.
In their dedication to community policing, MPD makes it clear they will continue to investigate crimes without consideration for a person's actual or perceived immigration status. This approach reflects a profound understanding that intermingling with federal immigration enforcement would compromise MPD’s ability to serve its community effectively. "Doing otherwise would have a chilling effect on our ability to provide public safety to our community," the statement elucidates.
Detailing the specific prohibitions, the policy dictates that MPD officers will not voluntarily become entangled with federal immigration enforcement, save for situations involving dire threats to safety or property. Officers are not to detain individuals based solely on immigration status, for instance, during a traffic stop, nor will they assist in immigration law enforcement. When responding to calls that may involve ICE, the presence of MPD is strictly to uphold public safety and rapidly depart once the threat is neutralized. Compliance with these principled stances is not optional, as failure will lead to disciplinary action, as the Minneapolis communication underscores.
With ICE activities conclusively on the rise in the Twin Cities, Minneapolis residents are increasingly concerned about what actions to take should they encounter ICE agents in their neighborhoods. The city's ordinance instructively delineates that although MPD does not assist with ICE operations, they will intervene solely in instances where violence or property destruction unfolds, to ensure the well-being of the community at large. The city continues to maintain and foster a clear division between municipal policing responsibilities and federal immigration enforcement, in what stands as a steadfast affirmation of local governance and community-focused policing principles.
