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Saint Paul council adopts police ID ordinance, urges hotels not to house federal immigration agents and continues public grievances hearing
Summary
The council unanimously adopted an ordinance requiring visible identification for officers, passed a nonbinding resolution urging hotels not to host federal immigration agents, and continued a high-profile public hearing on grievances over federal immigration operations after residents testified about raids and a car crash tied to an ICE pursuit.
The Saint Paul City Council on Thursday adopted an ordinance requiring law enforcement officers working in the city to display visible identification on the outermost layer of their uniform and passed a resolution urging hotels not to house federal immigration agents, while extending a public hearing into grievances about federal immigration operations.
The ordinance (Ordinance 26-6) was presented as a measure to increase transparency and accountability. "Saint Paul residents have the right to be aware of an officer's identity and agency affiliation," Vice President Kim said in floor remarks. The council voted 6–0 to adopt the ordinance.
The council also suspended rules to take up a separate resolution urging hotels within St. Paul to refrain from housing federal immigration agents. Council Member Yang, who brought the hotel resolution forward, framed it as a response to community reports of fear and safety concerns tied to federal enforcement operations. "When they're housing ICE agents, they are a part of the problem," she said, urging business accountability. Sunrise Movement speakers testified about observed activity at local hotels and reports from hotel staff alleging unsafe conditions; they asked the council to send a clear message to industry stakeholders. The council adopted the nonbinding resolution 6–0.
A lengthy public hearing on grievances about federal immigration operations — described by many speakers as "Operation Metro Surge" — drew dozens of residents, neighborhood groups, and organizers. Testimony covered a broad set of requests including establishment of "safe zones" (schools, hospitals, child-care centers), emergency rental assistance, mandatory de-escalation training for local officers, and preservation of evidence following incidents. Several witnesses described a vehicle pursuit by federal agents that ended in a multi-vehicle crash near Selby and Western the morning of the meeting; Vice President Kim reported the person involved was taken to a hospital and was stable.
Neighbors Protecting Neighbors and other community groups urged immediate, tangible relief. "We need real relief — rental assistance, stronger notice of eviction, and clear protections for education and health facilities," a member of Neighbors Protecting Neighbors said. Speakers repeatedly called for greater separation between local police and federal immigration enforcement and for the city to use its legal authorities and intercity partnerships to pursue accountability.
Council members acknowledged the urgency of the community's demands while noting limits on city authority over federal actors. Several members directed staff to preserve records and work on legal and budgetary options; the council voted to continue the public hearing until Feb. 18 to allow additional testimony and follow-up.
What happens next: the identification ordinance takes effect according to the city's ordinance schedule after publication and any mayoral action. The hotel-resolution is a formal statement sent to relevant city departments and hotel stakeholders. The public hearing on immigration-related grievances will resume on Feb. 18 for additional testimony and possible next steps.
