Federal immigration operations

Said evictions are up 44% and criticized the city's outdated, closed rental-assistance webpage, asking the council to follow up with his organization on funding details.

Called for safe zones, housing assistance, intercity solidarity, and every councilmember authoring ICE-related ordinances now.

Ward 2 organizer urged the council to consult cities that have fought DHS legally and to catalog footage for accountability.

Ward 5 parent-patrol member described the chase passing a school minutes after drop-off and demanded footage preservation and police accountability.

Ward 1 neighbor said the crash site was scrubbed within 90 minutes and urged safe zones and eviction relief.

Demanded schools, hospitals, and childcare centers be designated safe zones where federal agents cannot enter.

Described being approached by masked agents and said 'no one is illegal on stolen land' in calling to abolish ICE.

Ward 3 resident asked the council to stop evictions and encampment demolitions during Operation Metro Surge.

Ward 2 resident said symbolic victories aren't enough and demanded $1 million in rental assistance like Minneapolis passed.

Ward 3 resident described the Selby-Western ICE chase crash and asked for hospitals as sanctuary sites and de-escalation training for police.

Said she spent $6,000 on GoFundMe donations for neighbors and demanded the city step up with material relief.

Asked the council to bar employment of former ICE/CBP agents in city departments and noted no independent investigator has reviewed the November police use-of-force incident.

A Ward 1 newcomer volunteering after Renee Good's death asked what police are for if community members bear the burden of protection.

An ER nurse at United Hospital described ICE bringing injured people to the hospital and criticized police inaction.

Described pregnant women and elderly residents avoiding hospitals out of fear and asked the council to find ways to provide safe at-home medical access.

Spoke on behalf of the Mayor's Advisory Council for People with Disabilities, urging increased protections for people with disabilities from immigration enforcement.

A Spanish teacher and interpreter described armed encounters, an abduction, and hospital exclusion, asking the council not to increase police budgets.

A Macalester student from Illinois described older children preparing to care for siblings if parents are detained.

A parent praised two childcare providers who testified and said he trusts volunteer patrols more than police.

An artist and parent called for unity statements condemning hate, emergency funding for arts and wellness, and support for residents facing eviction.

Invoked the Jewish principle of pikuach nefesh, urging the council to break norms to protect residents.

Asked for plain-language clarification of the separation ordinance, oversight of federal agents' conduct, and action on citizen detentions.

Described an unmarked SUV idling outside her home, fear, detained neighbors, and called for ICE to be abolished.

A childcare advocate asked for protections for childcare centers and a clear written statement of what SPPD will and won't do.

A childcare center director described lockdowns, a hovering ICE helicopter, and families keeping children home out of fear.

Childcare founder criticized the city's delayed action and mixed messaging from the council, mayor's office, and police, urging the separation ordinance now.

A childcare director described a family member detained, lockdowns, and harassment of her center, urging the council to act weekly.

A retired 44-year paramedic described guarding a school and locked-up businesses, urging the council to keep resisting.

Described an ICE stop of a citizen couple, hospital access denied, and SPPD failing to intervene.

Described her own abduction by Border Patrol aided by SPPD officers and demanded action against Chief Henry's officers.

A Dayton's Bluff resident described constant ICE convoys and anxiety in her neighborhood, calling for ICE out of Minnesota.

A Macalester student relayed lessons from Louisiana organizers about detention transfers and urged the council to act before residents are sent out of state.

Speaking for Unidos and the Sanctuary City Committee, urged strengthening the separation ordinance and noted Minneapolis passed stronger language in December.

Listed a slate of municipal protections: no cooperation without judicial warrants, banning masked enforcement, data privacy rules, and public oversight hearings.

A trained street observer, reported an HSI-agent vehicle linked to a Saint Paul police incident on January 2 and questioned SPPD cooperation with Homeland Security Investigations.

Said her son works with terrified immigrant families at a high school and asked what the city will actively do to protect people.

Urged the council to use every lever of power to hold police accountable and protect residents, invoking Anne Frank and the Underground Railroad.

Reported seeing helicopters, a Coast Guard plane, and a convoy of unmarked tactical vehicles near Holman Field, and asked whether the National Guard is assisting ICE deployments.

Called for swift action to strengthen the separation ordinance and questioned SPPD's use of chemical agents during the November 25 Rose Street action.

Asked the council to bar city data sharing with federal agencies, prohibit police crowd control for ICE, and require officers to be identifiable and deployable only with mayoral authorization.

Ward 6 resident and educator urged the council to condemn DHS/ICE presence, reporting racial profiling and reports of ICE asking for names of Hmong and Asian residents at their homes.