Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Saint Paul public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
9 issues with critical priority
Immigration enforcement transparency ordinance
The council passed a new ordinance requiring city employee training, public reporting, and programming on how the city interacts with federal immigration enforcement. It grew out of community frustration after Operation Metro Surge, when residents and city workers said they didn't know what to do when ICE showed up.
Federal immigration operations grievances
The council finalized an ID-visibility ordinance, heard a mask-ban ordinance, passed a hotel resolution, and heard grievances after an ICE chase caused a crash at Selby and Western. Residents demanded rent relief, safe zones, and police accountability.
Civil immigration ordinance (Ord 26-19)
A new ordinance would set training, reporting, and programming rules for how the city interacts with federal immigration enforcement. The public hearing was reopened and continued to April 22 after resident testimony.
Pre-eviction notice period extended to 60 days
Renters now get 60 days' notice before eviction instead of 30, at least temporarily, in response to Operation Metro Surge's displacement of immigrant families. The council rejected exempting Public Housing Agency properties, arguing no landlord should be carved out of tenant protections.
Anti-staging ordinance for city property
This ordinance bans law enforcement staging operations on city-owned property — and Version 2, approved today, extends it to city-controlled properties like libraries and HRA land. A Frogtown resident testified in support, saying people shouldn't be afraid to use parks and libraries. Final adoption expected February 4.
Federal immigration operations and community safety
The standing public hearing drew testimony about ICE's constant presence in Frogtown and elsewhere — people afraid to go to work, bus stops staked out by armed agents, food shelves overwhelmed. Residents asked for an eviction pause, Xcel Energy debt forgiveness, limits on the federal Secure Communities booking pipeline, and clarity on 911 response. The council continued the hearing and reaffirmed police will respond to 911 calls.
City response to federal ICE operations
With federal immigration agents operating across the Twin Cities, the committee heard research-backed recommendations: get information out quickly, keep local police roles clear, and document federal violations. Speakers flagged detentions of residents, surveillance and data tracking of observers, and questioned ICE's claims about who it is targeting.
Strengthening the Saint Paul Separation Ordinance
The city's 2004 separation ordinance limits how city employees interact with federal immigration enforcement, and a rewrite is underway. Draft language exists and is being vetted by the city attorney and mayor's office, with a first reading planned at a regular council meeting. Councilmembers are divided between moving fast and getting the legal footing right.
Proposed Saint Paul separation ordinance
Residents testified for nearly 40 minutes about ICE activity in Saint Paul, including a raid on Rose Street, masked agents, and a fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis the same day. The council is drafting a stronger separation ordinance — no city data sharing, no police crowd control for ICE, no masked unidentified agents — with a policy discussion January 14 at 10 a.m.