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Arden Hills approves statement and proclamation on federal immigration enforcement; council discusses local impacts
Summary
As part of the consent calendar the council approved a city statement and a proclamation on federal immigration enforcement and authorized the mayor to send a letter to federal legislators; residents and councilmembers discussed local ICE activity and possible short-term utility relief for affected households.
The Arden Hills City Council on Feb. 9 approved, as part of its consent calendar, a city statement regarding federal immigration enforcement activities and a proclamation authorizing the mayor to send a letter to federal legislators.
Patrick Burlingame, a resident, thanked the council and staff for preparing the proclamation, resolution and letter and asked how the city would share any responses from federal delegates with residents. “I appreciated the fact the City Council would be taking concrete steps to put the City’s position on the record,” he said.
Councilmembers used the discussion period and later council comments to describe recent immigration-enforcement activity and to request follow-up support for affected residents. Councilmember Kurt Weber and Councilmember Brenda Holden described observations of ICE vehicles staging near Arden Manor and County Road 96; Holden said the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office reported no formal incident report because the exact location of an arrest was unknown but that deputies had confirmed the vehicles’ license plates belonged to ICE.
Councilmember Emily Rousseau asked staff to provide data on six-year appointments and suggested the council consider waiving late fees for water and sewer payments for the quarter because of immigration enforcement impacts. Councilmember Tena Monson supported posting Xcel Energy’s customer-assistance information on the city website and noted the city held a special work session on immigration activity on Jan. 31.
Mayor David Grant said he would not support asking the Gateway Visitor Bureau representative to resign and said he did not see justification for that step, while acknowledging the council’s concern about ICE presence and its community impact.
The items authorizing the city statement and proclamation were read aloud during the consent portion of the meeting and were approved with the Consent Calendar vote (5-0). Councilmembers requested that staff share any federal responses with residents and post utility-assistance resources online.
