St. Paul formally bans ICE staging and operations on city property
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her has signed an ordinance prohibiting federal immigration agents from staging or conducting operational activity on all city-owned property and restricting their access to non‑public "cry spaces" in city facilities, formally codifying the city's earlier cease‑and‑desist demand. Her said the move responds to masked agents "using violence and intimidation" during Operation Metro Surge, and city officials tied ICE operations to economic harm for small businesses while promoting a "Shop Local, Stand Together Month."
📌 Key Facts
- On Feb. 5, 2026, Mayor Kaohly Her signed an ordinance putting the city's ban on ICE staging and operations on city property into effect.
- The ordinance explicitly prohibits both 'staging' and other operational activity by federal immigration agents on all city-owned property and restricts access to non-public 'cry spaces' in city facilities.
- The measure formally codifies the city’s earlier cease-and-desist letter directing federal law enforcement to leave city property, rather than treating that demand as a one-off action.
- Her framed the move as a response to masked agents 'using violence and intimidation' during Operation Metro Surge and said city parks, libraries and service centers 'are not for immigration enforcement.'
- The announcement was paired with messaging about the economic impact of ICE operations on St. Paul small businesses and launched a February 'Shop Local, Stand Together Month' campaign.
📊 Relevant Data
Immigrants, including those from Venezuela, are less likely to be incarcerated than native-born Americans, with illegal immigrant incarceration rates estimated at 0.51% compared to 1.71% for natives in 2023.
Immigrants less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born — NPR
The root causes of Venezuelan migration include democratic breakdown, repression, and a lack of economic opportunity, leading to over 7 million Venezuelans fleeing since 2015.
The Persistence of the Venezuelan Migrant and Refugee Crisis — CSIS
Immigrants contribute $26 billion to Minnesota's economy, helping to make it healthy and affordable.
Economist: Immigrants contribute $26 billion to Minnesota's economy — MPR News
ICE operations in the Twin Cities have caused 50-80% revenue loss for some businesses, particularly affecting Hispanic-owned businesses by turning vibrant shopping areas into ghost towns.
ICE surge hits Twin Cities businesses, 50-80% revenue loss reported — FOX 9
Claims of high crime rates among Somali immigrants in Minnesota are inaccurate, with a U.S. Representative's statement that 80% of crimes in the Twin Cities are committed by Somalis being wildly false.
U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer makes wildly inaccurate claim about Somali crime on national TV — Minnesota Reformer
Somali refugees began resettling in Minnesota in the 1990s due to the Somali civil war, with the state becoming home to the largest Somali community outside Africa through U.S. resettlement policies.
How Minnesota became the center of the Somali diaspora — Sahan Journal
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Mayor Kaohly Her has now signed the ordinance previously debated by the City Council, putting the ICE staging ban into effect.
- The ordinance explicitly prohibits both 'staging' and 'operational activity' by federal immigration agents on all city-owned property and restricts access to non-public 'cry spaces' in city facilities.
- The measure formally codifies the city’s cease-and-desist letter directing federal law enforcement to leave city property, rather than leaving it as a one-off demand.
- Her publicly framed the move as a response to masked agents 'using violence and intimidation' during Operation Metro Surge and said city parks, libraries and service centers 'are not for immigration enforcement.'
- The announcement was paired with messaging about the economic impact of ICE operations on St. Paul small businesses and a February 'Shop Local, Stand Together Month' push.