Residents tell Blaine council federal-agency activity is sowing fear; callers urge separation ordinance

Dozens of Blaine residents used the council’s open forum on Feb. 2 to describe encounters with federal immigration-enforcement personnel and to urge city leaders to act to protect residents and local businesses.

Carlos Mostack, who said he has lived in Blaine for 26 years, told the council he and his neighbors are “feeling genuine fear” after repeatedly observing heavily armed, masked federal agents in the community. “When the Blaine Police Department is present, I feel protected,” Mostack said, adding that residents want the city, police and neighbors to work together so people can feel safe in their own neighborhoods.

Several speakers made sharper allegations about federal conduct. Colette Adkins said she filmed what she called “the unlawful detention of a U.S. Citizen” and asserted she had observed agents driving without license plates and using city parks as staging areas. “We don’t need that in our city,” Adkins said, and urged the council to consider a separation ordinance like those in Minneapolis and St. Paul to limit local assistance to federal immigration enforcement and to bar federal use of city facilities.

Other residents described specific encounters. James Nelson said his wife and neighbors followed an unknown vehicle they believed to be federal agents; he said agents later boxed in another car and removed a woman neighbors later identified as “Becky.” “They got out, had a conversation, got back in and left,” Nelson said of the agents; he added that Blaine Police later responded but that residents are uncertain where lines of authority and procedure lie.

Becky, the woman who described her experience at the meeting, said she was surrounded by 16 masked agents in her vehicle, handcuffed and taken to Whipple Detention Center. “My rights were not explained to me,” she said, and asked the council and police to make a public statement and take action to protect residents.

Nicole Yacom told the council the presence of federal agents is harming the local economy, saying she had seen restaurants reduce hours or close because workers are afraid to leave their homes. “This is not what a healthy economy looks like,” Yacom said.

Speakers urged several specific steps, including: immediate police response to reports of unmarked vehicles and masked individuals; prohibiting use of city-owned lots and parks as staging areas; posting signage to restrict use of public property; and drafting a separation ordinance to limit local involvement in federal immigration operations.

Mayor Sanders told speakers that open forum is not a back-and-forth and said, “If follow-up is needed, city staff will work to contact the speakers outside of the meeting to arrange for that follow-up.” The council did not vote on any ordinance or directive during the meeting; the public-comment period concluded and the council moved on to consent and development business.

The meeting record shows residents repeatedly described fear and alleged improper federal conduct; city staff indicated they would follow up with speakers but provided no immediate policy action or formal council directive at the meeting. Next formal steps would require staff or a council member to place an ordinance or referral on a future agenda for formal consideration.