In an era when community trust can be as precarious as winter ice, Minneapolis city officials have been busy rolling out a swath of policies and resources aimed at supporting its immigrant and refugee citizens in the face of increased federal immigration activities. Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw, representing Ward 4, has called upon residents to "stay vigilant, look out for one another, and prioritize safety," especially during ongoing protests and demonstrations in reaction to recent incidents in the city, according to a statement released by her office.
Further bolstering this approach, a new City policy, effective as of last month, has drawn a firm line between Minneapolis police duties and immigration enforcement. On December 3, Mayor Frey reportedly signed Executive Order 2025-02, which prohibits civil immigration enforcement operations from using any city-owned properties. An update to the City's separation ordinance on December 11 codified this order and set in place training and reporting requirements for city employees. "We are taking action to reaffirm our commitment to standing with our immigrant and refugee communities," Vetaw's office stated.
Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) officers are now explicitly barred from participating in immigration enforcement, such as the detainment of individuals based solely on immigration status or providing information to immigration enforcement agents. While MPD might respond to calls for service involving federal immigration enforcement, they do not operate under federal law enforcement direction and are mandated to disengage once any threat is neutralized, as the city's separation ordinance dictates.
In daily municipal life, situations may arise where residents witness federal immigration activities, such as ICE, in their communities. The City of Minneapolis urges residents to contact 911 for immediate emergencies related to these occurrences, while non-emergency questions and concerns should be directed to 311, the statement released by the Council Member's office reads. Notably, small businesses, which form the economic fabric of the Minneapolitan community and have felt a tangible impact from federal immigration actions, are being provided with resources, including optional signage asserting property rights against ICE operations and free legal advice via the City's Business Technical Assistance Program (BTAP).
To further facilitate a city where fear doesn't dictate business as usual, Mayor Frey and Police Chief Brian O'Hara have shown their support for the Latino community by standing with small business owners and faith leaders, voicing concerns about the damaging reality that federal immigration activity has caused in our city. These measures underscore a broader, multifaceted effort by Minneapolis to manifest a haven for its diverse population, ensuring that while reality might not always be gentle, the response of the city and its guardians strives to be as embracing as the communities it seeks to protect.
