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Oversight commission refers MPD draft policy on police authority in immigration matters to policy committee after debate
Summary
On Oct. 15 the oversight commission voted 8-0 to refer public feedback on draft MPD Policy 9-401 (police authority in immigration matters) to its Police Policy Research and Recommendations Committee for drafting a recommended response; commissioners debated whether the draft is strong enough to protect immigrants.
The Community Commission on Police Oversight voted 8-0 on Oct. 15 to refer feedback on the Minneapolis Police Department's draft policy 9-401, "police authority in immigration matters," to the commission's Police Policy Research and Recommendations Committee (PPRR) for further drafting and submission to the Implementation Unit.
Commissioner Bartz moved the referral and said the 45-day review window allowed a more robust full-commission discussion. "The policy applies the requirements of Minneapolis separation ordinance chapter 19," Bartz said, describing the draft as focused on public safety regardless of immigration status and noting the draft directs officers not to determine immigration status except in limited circumstances, such as when immigration status is an element of a criminal offense like trafficking.
Commissioners debated the sufficiency of the draft. Commissioner Baker said the draft "does not reflect that standing with our neighbors," arguing the city should take a stronger stance and that MPD should not provide space, restroom usage or facility access to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during actions. Commissioner Palmer said Minneapolis has one of the strongest city-level separation ordinances and said the draft needs to better reflect community demands in light of recent federal actions, including events on June 3 referenced by commissioners. Commissioner McElhinney noted that items described in the discussion, such as reckless use of crowd-control weapons by federal agents, raise legal and public-safety concerns that could be considered in policy language.
Others described comparative policies in other cities. Commissioners reported reviewing Las Vegas, Chicago and New York City policies: New York City guidance explicitly directs officers not to use city resources to enforce civil immigration provisions and prohibits officers from contacting immigration authorities to share a person's location or detain individuals at ICE's request; Chicago's policy includes language barring the threat of deportation as a coercive tactic.
Commissioner Bartz and the PPRR agreed to compile feedback and produce a draft recommendation for the Implementation Unit; commissioners will have an opportunity to review and submit edits before PPRR finalizes the submission. The clerk recorded the roll-call vote as unanimous (8 ayes). The document reviewed at the meeting will be attached to the minutes and provided to Commissioner Shanfield's PPRR subgroup for compilation of feedback.
The referral asks PPRR to draft the commission's recommended response; it does not itself change MPD policy or impose operational restrictions. Commissioners emphasized that further revisions are expected and encouraged public input and review by previously engaged community groups.
