Residents urge Blue Earth County to document local costs of federal budget cuts and oppose aggressive ICE actions
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Summary
Several residents and faith leaders at the Feb. 17 Blue Earth County commissioners meeting urged the board to quantify how recent federal budget changes and increased ICE activity are affecting local services, and asked the county to publicly advocate to Congress and use county authority to protect residents.
Multiple residents and local faith leaders used the public-comment period at the Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb. 17 to press the board to examine and respond to recent federal actions they said are harming local families and services.
Catherine Fushi told the board she wanted the county to "use its influence to publicly advocate" for rolling back what she described as expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Minnesota and for Congress to repeal the recent federal funding changes. Diane Dobitz asked the board to publish a report quantifying the impact of the federal budget bill on Blue Earth County services and to send a formal letter to Congress asking for repeal; she said her representative has not met with residents on the issue.
Melanie Walziger, identifying herself with a faith congregation, said members reported fear and anxiety about ICE presence, including parents who said children no longer play outside. Barb Keith, a retired health-and-human-services worker, described the likely effects on people who rely on Medicaid, SNAP and WIC and on small businesses and food shelves. Micah Book and other commenters urged the board to document local costs, bar federal agents from using county property, and provide "know your rights" trainings for residents.
None of the public commenters asked the board to adopt an immediate ordinance at the meeting; rather they asked for staff reports and for the board to use its influence and communications to press state and federal officials. The board did not take formal action on the requests during the meeting; the chair stated the board will direct county staff to respond to issues raised during public comment.
What happens next: commenters requested a county cost-impact report and a formal letter to Congress; the transcript records the requests but does not show whether or when staff will prepare the report or whether the board will send a letter.