Roseville community steps up to support immigrants
Protest, public comment, mutual aid, new city restrictions, and community organizing in Roseville, MN
It's been a full week in Roseville with lots of activity related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity and the community's response.
In recent days and weeks, Roseville residents report witnessing people being detained by ICE, unmarked vehicles driving erratically on city streets, families keeping kids home from school, ICE agents intimidating bystanders, and federal agents in city parks, gas stations, parking lots, restaurants, and hotels. Many residents in Roseville are stepping up and speaking out against this, calling on the city to do more and organizing grassroots efforts to support immigrants in the community.
Let's catch up with what's happened over the past seven days.
Saturday
On Jan. 10, over 1,000 people from around the Twin Cities attended a Monarca Rapid Response training at Roseville Lutheran Church. Afterwards 150 locals met to organize a response to ICE with the nonprofit Do Good Roseville.
Sunday
On Jan. 11, the League of Women Voters Roseville Area held a forum on Due Process. This had been planned weeks in advance, but organizers say the turnout was "unprecedented." There were 65 people at the event and the recording has been viewed 171 times. If you missed it, here's a recording.
Monday
On Jan. 12, around 700 Roseville Area High School students walked out of school and led a march to protest ICE with the support of the school and district administration, Roseville Police, and community members.
Naomi Krueger
In the evening, at the regular city council meeting, hundreds of residents filled City Hall to plead with the city council to do more to stop federal immigration enforcement from using city resources and shared experiences and opinions about ICE for four hours during general public comment.
The city council directed city staff to put together a draft ordinance for consideration implementing as many of the recommendations from Councilmember Matt Bauer, Councilmember Julie Strahan, and the petition submitted by residents as legally feasible. City staff said they would bring that back for discussion at the Jan. 26 city council meeting.
Naomi Krueger
Tuesday
On Jan. 13, city staff got to work. City Manager Pat Trudgeon told the Roseville Reader they were working hard to "expediate the requests for action and get them in front of the council."
Mayor Dan Roe and Councilmember Julie Strahan posted personal statements on Facebook expressing support for immigrants. The other city councilmembers do not have an active presence on social media beyond campaign pages during election years.
Wednesday
On Jan. 14, the Roseville City Council announced a Special Meeting for Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss staff findings and consider policies, ordinances, and other actions related to immigration enforcement in our community. This meets the 10-day public notice requirement set by state law. The city council could vote on new or revised ordinances related to immigration enforcement in Roseville at that meeting. The agenda and meeting materials are not yet available.
The City also posted information about immigrant rights from the ACLU and other resources on social media and the city website.
Thursday
On Jan. 15 city staff placed signs in Roseville Parks restricting the use of parking lots to active park users. They are also temporarily closing park bathrooms when not in use for a specific event.
Mayor Dan Roe posted this information on Facebook:
"In consultation with the city council and me, and in response to the compelling testimony at our January 12 council meeting, city staff has placed these signs and similar ones at city parking lots across town, reserving their use exclusively for park or facility users, or for city hall visitors.
Additionally, park restrooms that are traditionally open during park hours have been closed other than at times when events are ongoing at those sites. This restroom closure is a temporary measure, and we appreciate park users' patience while it is in effect."
Friday
On Jan. 16 (and previous days too), community members in high-viz vests waited at bus stops and in front of schools and childcare centers to support vulnerable community members.
At Makwa Coffee, the entry was stocked with whistle kits, a little free pantry overflowing with food items, and fliers pinned to the bulletin board about reporting ICE activity and contacting Roseville city council to "Say NO to ICE Cooperation."
Do Good Roseville announced that as of Jan. 16, the community has donated $9,000 for gift cards for Roseville Area Schools to hand out to families in need of extra support.
Every Meal, a nonprofit based on Roseville, announced that they are providing an additional 20,000 food bags to children across the community. They also said they would increase the number of food bags if additional funding is received.
"Our hearts are with the children and families across Minnesota. The increased presence of ICE has created fear and uncertainty within our communities and schools, often preventing families and children from accessing essential resources like food," Every Meal posted on social media.
This was some of the observed, public activity happening in Roseville this week in support of immigrant neighbors, but even more happened behind the scenes in big and small ways.
