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Resident urges Burnsville to join mayors' coalition, voices concern about ICE activity
Summary
Resident Deborah Menke pressed the city to join or align with a mayoral coalition opposing certain ICE activities, describing encounters she said showed officers acting without regard for community spaces; Mayor Elizabeth Kautz responded that Burnsville is "Burnsville focused" and participates in broader mayoral efforts including the U.S. Conference of Mayors' letter to Congress.
During the public-comment portion of the meeting, resident Deborah Menke urged Burnsville officials to consider joining or supporting a mayoral coalition she said was forming to resist certain U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities.
"ICE has has totally disrupted everything," Menke said, describing encounters she said included ICE presence at school parking lots and an agent who told a community member, "I don't have to. I can do whatever I want." She told the council she hoped a coalition of mayors and cities would bring a stronger, collective voice to address the issue.
Mayor Elizabeth Kautz responded that Burnsville staff and elected officials have been meeting with regional mayors and that the city is taking local, person-to-person steps to assist impacted residents and businesses. "We are Burnsville focused," Kautz said, adding that Burnsville is part of broader efforts through the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which had signed a letter to Congress urging de-escalation of immigration enforcement activities in cities.
The city manager and police chief were noted as attending prior meetings; the mayor said staff would continue one-to-one outreach to affected residents and businesses. The transcript does not record any formal council action in response to the request; the item was a public comment and the council moved on to other agenda items.
