Residents tell council ICE activity has left community fearful; callers ask for public meeting and clear communication

Several Inver Grove Heights residents used public comment time on March 9 to describe fear and hardship they say followed recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the area, and to ask the city for public acknowledgement and a community meeting.

An unnamed resident recounted how fear of enforcement altered daily life: "I was too afraid to go with him to his medical appointments," the resident said, describing being reluctant to leave the house and the strain of caring for an ailing father. The speaker said the family’s father died in January and that fear limited their ability to mourn or gather after his death.

Carrie Lundberg spoke on behalf of another resident and described impacts on a family-run restaurant that she said has lost customers and employees because people are afraid to come in; she said a college-student family member now carries a passport everywhere out of fear. Lundberg asked council to consider ways to support affected community members.

A third speaker, Steve, asked the council to publicly respond to constituent outreach and to hold a dedicated community meeting focused specifically on federal enforcement activity and city policy so residents can ask questions and receive clear information from city leadership and public-safety officials.

Councilors thanked speakers for coming and acknowledged the concerns; no specific policy action or vote on the record followed the public comments, but residents asked the council to provide direct communication and to consider convening a public forum to address questions about local procedures and protections.