Saint Paul council holds emotional public hearing on federal immigration operations, schedules policy discussion

The Saint Paul City Council held an extended public hearing on Jan. 7 on grievances about federal immigration operations after a fatal shooting in the region, hearing multiple residents and organizers who urged the city to tighten limits on local cooperation with federal authorities.

At the hearing, residents described neighborhood encounters they attributed to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agents, and called for concrete municipal protections including bans on use of city property and data for civil immigration enforcement, restrictions on police crowd-control support for ICE actions, and stronger identification rules for officers. Heather C. Lou, who identified herself as a Ward 6 resident and ethnic-studies faculty member, told the council: "ICE and DHS must go home. They are not welcome here in our communities."

Other speakers said they had observed tactical convoys, unmarked vehicles, and alleged door-to-door requests for names of Hmong and Asian residents. Nancy Kafka described seeing multiple aircraft and a convoy near Holman Field on the morning in question and asked whether the National Guard or Holman Field had been used in support of federal operations.

Council members acknowledged the publics anger and fear and said they are actively working on stronger protections. Council member Yang, who placed the public hearing on the agenda, said she and colleagues are compiling community reports and stressed the councils intent to act: "The work that you're doing, the input you're sharing, is not done in vain at all," she said, urging residents to keep providing information to her office.

Vice President [council] summarized the coalition leading the draft changes and said the lead offices on the measure come from Wards 6, 5 and 4; the council announced a policy committee discussion on proposed changes to the separation ordinance at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14. The vice president said the draft draws on recent language passed by Minneapolis and other cities and that city staff and community groups such as Unidos and the Immigrant Defense Network will be engaged.

Speakers pressed for other steps the council could take immediately, including municipal rules on data sharing, suspension of city contracts that could support detention or transport, and a requirement that officers be clearly identifiable during enforcement actions. Several council members reiterated that municipal authority is limited where federal law applies but said the city will use all powers available to protect residents.

Council members also encouraged additional community hearings and a public meeting scheduled for the following evening to continue gathering testimony and feedback.

The council closed the public hearing and said it will continue policy work on the separation ordinance; no final ordinance vote was taken at the Jan. 7 meeting.