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Residents press council on ICE activity; police chief urges caution on city-level enforcement moves
Summary
Several residents asked the Orono council to limit federal civil immigration enforcement on city property; Police Chief Froniak said Orono has not deployed resources to Minneapolis, described coordination with county and state partners and warned about legal limits on city action.
Multiple residents used the public-comment period to urge the Orono City Council to limit access to city facilities and to call for a city resolution restricting civil immigration enforcement on public property.
Stu Ackman presented a draft resolution he said would "restrict the use of city property and resources for federal civil immigration enforcement" and establish protected buffer zones around schools, parks, religious institutions and licensed human-service facilities. "Restricting of the use on of city property and resources for for federal civil immigration enforcement and establishing protected buffer zones," Ackman said in summary of his proposal.
Other residents described practical impacts they said were occurring in the region: Jim Gamboni urged the city to educate residents about how to handle "administrative warrants," saying people should know they do not need to open their doors to administrative warrants; Cheryl Kalseth said aggressive, armed federal activity seen in videos had left families anxious and local businesses disrupted.
The council asked for an operational update from the police chief. "We have not sent any resources down to Minneapolis as to date," Chief Froniak said, adding the department had deployed its mobile field-force officer twice to assist at regional protests but had kept most resources close to home. The chief said the department will not enforce immigration status and is coordinating with Hennepin County and statewide chiefs; he also cautioned that city-level restrictions could be difficult to enforce without legal teeth and could place officers in legally fraught situations.
City communications staff described a social-media message clarifying what local officers do and do not do; the post drew a mix of responses (95 comments and a small number of new followers), staff said, and the city will continue targeted communication to residents through email listservs and other channels.
Council members asked whether the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association letter and other joint statements were being distributed; staff said they would push significant joint statements through the listserv and continue targeted outreach. The chief urged residents who have specific concerns to call the police directly rather than rely on social media exchanges so staff can provide accurate, locally appropriate guidance.
No formal council action was taken on the draft resolution during the meeting; several councilmembers said they would consider further options and directed staff to continue communications and coordination with county and regional partners.
