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Residents and business owners urge Corcoran leaders to act after ICE activity in Maple Hill
Summary
Multiple residents and business owners told Corcoran City Council they fear intimidation and economic harm from recent ICE enforcement in the Maple Hill area, urging local steps such as emergency ordinances, legal aid and outreach even as officials say a partial drawdown has begun.
Dozens of residents and business owners urged the Corcoran City Council on Monday to take steps to protect people and businesses after repeated immigration-enforcement actions in the Maple Hill neighborhood.
At the start of the council’s open-forum period, Charlie Rojos told elected officials that "there's been a lot of ICE activity around the community," describing drone surveillance, agents photographing property and aggressive stops that have left neighbors afraid to leave their homes. Business owner Heidi Highland said she employs about 50 people and pleaded for local options to help workers and employers, saying, "We need ICE out of Minnesota," and asking the council to consider a temporary emergency order restricting ICE congregation, post information on the city website, and convene working groups to coordinate support.
Rob Woodworth, a long-time resident and legal advocate, characterized the enforcement as an "occupation," arguing it has caused community-wide fear and interruption of work and schooling. He cited reported figures — "more than 4,000 arrests" and "74% involving people with no criminal record" — as reasons local leaders should demand accountability and help residents secure legal representation and relief.
Several community patrollers and volunteers — including Kendall Arrow, Michelle Tyson and Sarah Gamble — described on-the-ground monitoring of raids and said observers have documented tactics they describe as harassment, including agents approaching vehicles at school bus drop-off times and appearing at private homes without clearly produced warrants. Arrow told the council they have been "volunteering as a community patroller in the west metro suburbs including Corcoran" to monitor vulnerable sites and check on residents.
Mayor [title used as in the meeting] responded personally, noting family ties and saying, "I want each and every one of our community members safe," and praised the Corcoran Police Department for how officers have handled interactions with observers. City staff and speakers noted a press briefing earlier in the day in which a local official said ICE had begun a drawdown in Minnesota; the timeline for a full withdrawal remained unclear.
Speakers asked the council to consider immediate, local steps — an emergency order limiting federal agents' ability to gather in certain public areas, proactive informational and legal resources on the city website, and coordination with neighboring cities that have adopted similar measures. Multiple commenters emphasized that federal immigration policy requires congressional action but urged the city to act where it can to reduce harm.
Next steps announced at the meeting included staff outreach and continued community conversation; no ordinance or emergency order was adopted during the session.
