City of Roseville responds to Operation Metro Surge
A running list of steps taken to limit ICE and support the community in Roseville
Since "Operation Metro Surge" flooded Minnesota with federal immigration enforcement actions, Roseville residents have mobilized to protect immigrant neighbors by becoming constitutional observers, bringing people groceries, eating at immigrant-owned restaurants, offering people rides to work, holding rallies and vigils, standing guard at bus stops and vulnerable neighborhoods, donating to area food shelves, contributing to rent assistance, and providing input to the city's leaders.
As a result of community feedback, including four hours of public comment at the Jan. 12 city council meeting, the City of Roseville has taken dozens of actions.
Here's an overview of the city's official actions and activities:
Jan. 14
City staff created a page on the city's website to host a list of immigrant resources, including information about your rights from organizations like the ACLU and the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. This page has been updated regularly since then as more information has been made available.
Jan. 15
On Jan. 15, city staff placed signs placed in parking lots of city parks and facilities restricting use of public lots only for park and facility use. No other use is permitted by the city.
Staff reviewed and made language changes to the Police Department Policies 420 (automated license plate readers), Policy 425 (first amendment assemblies), and Policy 1017 (Uniform Regulations).
Jan. 22
At the Jan. 22 Special City Council Meeting, city council passed a Use of city Resources Ordinance and a Resolution prohibiting the use of City resources for federal immigration enforcement.
The city council also reviewed an update to the Roseville Police Department's Policy 413.6 related to federal requests for assistance, but sent it back for further revision.
Watch the Jan. 22 Special City Council Meeting.
Jan. 26
City Council issued a statement denouncing the federal immigration enforcement actions.
City Council passed a resolution urging the Governor to issue an executive order instituting a temporary eviction and foreclosure moratorium during the period of Operation Metro Surge. This was sent on Jan. 27.
City Council added a federal legislative priority for a federal law prohibiting federal law enforcement agents from using facial coverings to obscure their identity as part of their work and requiring the display of identification of their name on the agents’ uniforms unless special conditions exist as defined under law.
The Roseville Economic Development Authority posted list of resources for businesses related to immigrant and employee rights. This page has been updated since then to add additional resources and information for the business community.
- Golden Shovel Agency, www.goldenshovelagency.com
Watch the Jan. 26 City Council Meeting.
Feb. 2
RPD staff met with the department's Multicultural Advisory Committee (MAC) to discuss RPD Policy 413 and gather additional input. Feedback from MAC, community members, and City Councilmember Julie Strahan were incorporated into a new draft.
(The MAC is a group of volunteers that provides input on police department policy. It was formed in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd.)
Feb. 9
At the Feb. 9 city council meeting, City Manager Pat Trudgeon provided an overview of all the actions the city has taken over the last four weeks.
The city council passed a resolution to amend Roseville Police Department Policy 413.6 to update language regarding "federal requests for assistance." Below is the slide from the meeting with the proposed language:
After hearing public comment and discussing as a council, the first sentence of the last paragraph in the image above was changed to "Requests for assistance from federal immigration officials should be directed to a supervisor as soon as possible." [italics show revised, approved language]
The city council also discussed the possibility of joining the Safe and Stable Communities Coalition. This Coalition, currently comprised of twelve Twin Cities Suburbs, was announced on Feb 2. The Coalition is calling on state and federal officials to de-escalate immigration enforcement activity, seek economic relief, and support one another. The City of Roseville was not approached to join the Coalition initially, but is now looking into what it would mean to join. Thirty other cities are also considering joining the Coalition. Mayor Roe directed city staff to bring more information to the Feb. 23 city council meeting.
Watch the Feb. 9 City Council Meeting.
