Saint Paul City Council Affirms Commitment to Immigrant Communities with New City Property Protections

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2026

Saint Paul City Council Affirms Commitment to Immigrant Communities with New City Property Protections

SAINT PAUL – In a unanimous 6–0 vote, the Saint Paul City Council has adopted Ordinance 26-5, adding Chapter 268 to the Legislative Code to prohibit law enforcement from staging immigration operations on city-owned properties and to limit access to non-public City spaces. The passage of the ordinance affirms the Council’s commitment to protecting all residents, regardless of immigration status, and to ensuring that non-public city-owned property and resources are not used in ways that undermine community trust and safety.  

Saint Paul has always been a city that welcomes immigrants and values the safety and dignity of every resident,” said Council President Rebecca Noecker, representing Ward 2. “This ordinance ensures that our city resources—our parks, parking lots, and other spaces—serve the people they are meant to serve, not federal enforcement operations. By prohibiting law enforcement staging on city-owned property, we are standing up for our residents, protecting our communities, and affirming that everyone deserves to live safely and free from fear.”  

Councilmember Molly Coleman of Ward 4 added, “This ordinance is a reminder that our city spaces belong to the people of Saint Paul, not to people who would use them to actively harm our community. While we might not be able to keep ICE out of our city entirely, we can prevent them from using our limited city resources to launch their attacks on our residents. Our Council and our city are united in our demand of ICE out, now.”    

The ordinance (ORD 26-5) is the first of a series of ordinances codified into law following the escalation of federal immigration enforcement in the fall of 2025. It comes on the heels of a cease-and-desist letter issued on December 19, 2025, by the Saint Paul City Attorney to the Acting Director of the Saint Paul Field Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The letter stated that it is unlawful for DHS/ HSI/ICE to use park parking lots without a permit and therefore required the agency to immediately cease using Saint Paul parking lots.

Saint Paul residents have since voiced concerns about the continued use of city property by ICE. Responding to this, Councilmember Saura Jost of Ward 3 said, “Constituents have made themselves abundantly clear: No City resources shall be used in service of this lawless federal operation. The Council is happy to oblige that request.”   

“In recent months, ICE has wreaked havoc in our city and caused irreparable harm to community members through their dehumanizing tactics of racial profiling, intimidation, and lawlessness,” said Ward 6 Councilmember Nelsie Yang. “Federal agents have repeatedly parked and used city property, like parking lots at our beloved libraries, and recreational centers, as a staging area. This is unacceptable. Our city properties are safe and welcoming spaces—values that are deeply violated by ICE and the authoritarian Trump regime. I am proud to sponsor this dire and life-saving ordinance in dedication to all who work, play, and live in Saint Paul. We need ICE out now."   

Council Vice President HwaJeong Kim, representing Ward 5, agreed, “Today we are drawing a clear line: our city will not be complicit in operations that tear families apart. Every day, families are making impossible decisions like whether it's safe to take their kids to school, whether they can safely make a grocery run, or whether their family members will make it home at night. Our city spaces and services are sacred to us and our residents. Staff work hard to ensure residents can recreate, play, and access services without fear. They deserve our protection.”

The ordinance prevents law enforcement from using non-public, city-owned property to stage immigration operations, including city lots. According to the ordinance, “city lots” refers to all parking lots, ramps, vacant lots, and garages that are owned, used, leased, or managed by the City of Saint Paul, the Saint Paul Public Library, the Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority, or Saint Paul Regional Water Services. The ordinance reinforces that Saint Paul city property cannot be used for immigration enforcement except when authorized by a judicial warrant or when another legal obligation requires access.  

Ward 7 Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson said, “No one should have to live in constant fear to call a place home. Yet across Saint Paul, federal activity is creating daily trauma and violence that deeply impacts families, children, and entire neighborhoods. We can’t normalize this because this is not normal. Neighbors are- as we now fully understand- putting their very lives on the line to protect and witness neighbors being kidnapped, dragged from parks, grocery stores, places of employment, schools, etc. This ordinance is about care, clarity, and our responsibility to the people who call Saint Paul home. Our parks, libraries, and city spaces exist for community — to gather, to rest, to play, and to feel safe. They should never be places of fear or trauma, which has been the recent experiences of our neighbors. We are reaffirming our values and making clear that city resources must serve the public good—not be used in ways that harm families, disrupt neighborhoods, or undermine trust.” 

The ordinance will go into effect 30 days after passage, following Mayoral approval and publication in the City’s official newspaper. In the meantime, the Council will continue to take action to protect residents and uphold the values of dignity, safety, and belonging for all who call Saint Paul home. 

About the City Council   
The Saint Paul City Council is the city’s legislative body, setting policy, adopting budgets, and providing direct constituent services across the city’s wards. Learn more at www.stpaul.gov/department/city-council.

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