Minneapolis Council Members Backโ Arresting Federal Agents Violating City Law
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Minneapolis, MN – A growing number of minneapolis city council members areโ advocating for a policy thatโ would allow local police to arrest federal agentsโฃ who violate the โคcity’s separation โordinance,โฃ a law designed to limit collaboration between local law enforcement andโ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The proposal comes amid escalating tensions over immigration enforcement and concerns about potential abuses of โคpower,โ especially with a potential โฃshift in federal governance.
The debate centers on strengthening protections for immigrant communities within Minneapolis. Currently, theโ city’s 20-year-old separation ordinance lacks clear, enforceable consequences for โฃofficers who collaborate with ICE. Advocates argue thatโ codifying discipline, actions, and consequences within the police contract is crucial to ensuring complianceโ and safeguarding the rights of residents. This move is seen as a proactive step to โฃprotect vulnerable populations, especiallyโข given concerns about aโฃ potential change in federal policy.
Demands for Accountability and contract Changes
Members โof the Minneapolis Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) โare leading the charge for stronger protections. We need that contract to include โฃreal, enforceable consequences โฃfor any officer who collaborates with ICE or violates our separation ordinance,
stated โฃMIRAC โmember Myrka Zambrano. Council Memberโ Aisha Wonsley, serving โon the โEnterprise Oversight Committee, echoed this sentiment, saying, I stand with our immigrant neighbors who are demanding the city update what weโ have found to be a โฃ20-year-old ordinance.
Wonsley criticized the mayor’s Office for allegedly deferring accountability โขto theโข Minnesota Department of human Rights and the Department โฃof Justice, particularly after a federal consent decreeโฃ was dismissed last summer. She emphasized theโค need to codify discipline, actions, and consequences in the police contract when officers โare found โto have violated our separation ordinance.
Similarly, Javier Chavez called for an updated ordinance with stronger penalties, stating, We certainly know that a policeโ union contract with language codifying violations is something we desperately need. If it’s in the contract,there will beโฃ real consequences for violations,especiallyโข underโฃ a Trump administration.
Federal Criticism and Legal Arguments
The city’s separation policies have drawn criticism from federal officials. At a press conferenceโฃ held atโค the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, Department of โHomeland Security adviser Kristi Noem asserted โthat Minneapolis’ policies contribute to increased violent crime, claiming, Under the leadership of Mayor Frey and Gov. Walz, more violent โcrimes are being perpetuated in these communities as of their refusal to defend American citizens.
notably, journalists from โคthe Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder and Sahan Journal were reportedly denied press access to โthat event.
Michelle Gross ofโข Minneapolis for a Better Police Contract highlighted the legal basis for perhaps arrestingโ federal agents. โ Good legal research has shown that local law enforcement can arrest ICE andโข othre federal โagents if they violate the law,
she stated, advocating forโ this authority to be codified in โคpolicy and enforced through the police contract.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2025/11/23 | Council members discuss arresting federal agents |
| Last Summer | Federalโ consent decree dismissed |
| Last Month | Kristiโ Noem criticizes Minneapolis policies |
Did You โคKnow?
Minneapolis already has a separation ordinance, but advocates argue it lacks the teeth to effectively prevent โคcollaborationโฃ between local police and ICE.
Mayor Jacob Frey has expressed opposition to the idea of arresting federal agents, deeming it โฃ perilous
and irresponsible.
Though, MIRAC member die Do Mir dismissed โthe mayor’s comments, stating, Iโค don’t really care what he has to say as he’s not doing anything anyways. When he comes back with a โขlist of ways he’s going to protect immigrants, then we’re going to listen.
Similar โproposals have surfaced in other cities. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi โขhave suggested arresting federal agentsโ who violate California’s upcoming ban on ICE agents wearing โmasks.โ Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche cautioned about a โpotential standoff with theโค White House. Council โขPresident Payne affirmed โhis commitment to accountability, stating, I am very much on record in holding anyโฃ agent ofโ any agency accountableโค to โขour โฃlaws andโข arresting โขthem if they break our laws.
As of today, Novemberโฃ 23, 2025, the โขCity Attorney’s Office and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office have notโค responded to inquiries regarding the potential for arresting federal agents.
Pro Tip:
Understanding the legal complexities of federal preemption is crucial when considering policies that impact federal โlawโข enforcement activities.
The job of our Minneapolis Police is to protect us, not federal agents that come here to harmโ our community,
concluded Michelle Gross.
What are your thoughts on the balance between local control and federal authority in immigration enforcement? Do you believe arresting federal agents โis a viable solution โคto protect immigrant communities?
Background on Separationโ Ordinances
Separation ordinances,also known as sanctuary policies,are local laws designed toโ limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal โคimmigration authorities. These policies vary widely, ranging from prohibiting officers from inquiring about a person’s immigrationโฃ statusโฃ to refusing to honor ICE detainers. โฃThe legal basis for these ordinancesโฃ is frequently enough rooted in the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which reservesโฃ powers not delegated to the federal government to the states โandโ the people. The โคdebate surrounding these policies often centers on issues of federal preemption – the idea โthat federal law takes precedence over state and local laws โขwhen there isโ a conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a separation ordinance? โคA separation ordinance is a local law limiting โคcooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities likeโ ICE.
- Why are Minneapolis councilโฃ members considering this measure? Council members aim to strengthen protections for immigrant communities and ensureโ accountability for any โฃpolice collaboration with ICE.
- Is it legal for local police to โฃarrest federal agents? legal experts suggest it โคis possible if federal agents violate local laws, but this is a complex legal issue.
- What is federal preemption? Federal preemption is the principle that federal law takes precedence over โคstate and local laws when there is a โconflict.
- What are ICE โdetainers? ICE detainers are requests from ICE โto โlocal law enforcement agencies to hold individuals suspected of being deportable.
