St. Paul council weighs tougher limits on ICE cooperation
The St. Paul City Council is considering changes to its immigration separation ordinance that would more clearly restrict when and how city staff can assist federal immigration enforcement, including explicit limits on letting ICE stage operations on city‑owned property and tighter rules for information‑sharing. The move comes amid Operation Metro Surge, heavy federal presence in the Twin Cities, and growing community and business backlash over raids and visible ICE activity near homes, schools and workplaces. City attorneys and staff briefed council members on options to codify and possibly strengthen current policy so it has the force of ordinance rather than relying solely on internal guidance. The debate mirrors Minneapolis’ own recent steps to hard‑code its ICE staging ban, and council members are weighing how far they can go under state and federal law while avoiding unintended legal or funding consequences.
📌 Key Facts
- St. Paul City Council held a public discussion on updating its immigration separation ordinance on January 14, 2026.
- Proposals include tighter limits on ICE staging on city property and more explicit restrictions on city staff cooperation in civil immigration enforcement.
- The policy review is driven by ongoing federal Operation Metro Surge raids and community concern about ICE presence in Twin Cities neighborhoods.
📊 Relevant Data
Operation Metro Surge, launched in December 2025 by the Trump administration, is described as the largest federal immigration enforcement operation ever, involving 2,000 agents in the Minneapolis area and resulting in 2,400 arrests of individuals described as criminal illegal aliens, including rapists, armed robbers, and drug traffickers.
2,000 federal agents sent to Minneapolis area to carry out 'largest immigration operation ever,' ICE says — PBS NewsHour
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, with approximately 86,000 Somalis as of recent estimates, of which about 78% reside in the Twin Cities metropolitan area; St. Paul specifically has around 6,024 residents of Somali ancestry.
Largest Somali Community in Minnesota by City in 2026 — Zip Atlas
Federal prosecutors have charged dozens of people, primarily from the Somali community in Minnesota, in fraud schemes that defrauded billions of dollars from state-administered social services programs during the 2020s, including child nutrition, autism services, and Medicaid, with convictions tied to hundreds of millions in losses.
How Fraud Swamped Minnesota's Social Services System — The New York Times
Approximately 81% of Somali-headed households in Minnesota use some form of welfare, compared to 21% of native-born households, with 54% receiving food stamps and 73% on Medicaid, based on data from 2014 to 2023.
Somali Immigrants in Minnesota — Center for Immigration Studies
Somali resettlement in Minnesota began in the 1990s following the Somali Civil War, facilitated by U.S. policies like the Refugee Act of 1980, with initial arrivals as refugees attracted by job opportunities, generous welfare benefits, and subsequent chain migration leading to community concentration in the Twin Cities.
How Minnesota became a hub for Somali immigrants in the U.S. — NPR
Somali Minnesotans generate at least $500 million in income annually and contribute approximately $67 million in state and local taxes, with broader economic impact estimated at $8 billion across the state.
Economist: Immigrants contribute $26 billion to Minnesota's economy — MPR News
Somali immigrants in Minnesota show higher involvement in certain crimes, including fraud and gang activity, with reports indicating overrepresentation in violent crimes in the Twin Cities, though exact per capita rates compared to the overall population are not uniformly reported; one analysis suggests elevated rates linked to socioeconomic factors.
Yes, Somali Immigrants Commit More Crime Than Natives — City Journal
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