Since December of 2025, numerous residents of St. Louis Park have lived in fear. The occupation of our state by Federal immigration enforcement has upended lives of immigrant and non-white residents, disrupted learning in our schools, and placed extreme stress on businesses in St. Louis Park and throughout Minnesota.

Recent events at Knollwood Mall and near Aquilla Elementary have caused confusion and reduced trust in the St. Louis Park Police Department. Additionally, alleged sightings of immigration enforcement agents congregating in the Police Department parking lot on March 3^rd have raised questions.

St. Louis Park PD claims to have followed their internal policies with regard to federal immigration enforcement (St. Louis Park Police Department, 2026, Policy 413), but residents are forced to take them at their word. Any violations of these policies are handled internally. In addition, these policies can be changed at any point by a future police chief (St. Louis Park Police Department, 2026, Policy 103).

Now more than ever, residents need to be able to trust our local government and police force. Internal policies are not enough. The best way to ensure we can hold our police accountable to our expectations of them is through the adoption of a strong separation ordinance that:

• Limits local police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement
• Establishes clear reporting protocols and training on encounters with federal immigration enforcement for all city employees and contractors
• Restricts the use of city resources and property by federal immigration authorities and provide transparency through yearly review of any alleged violations

Cities across Minnesota, including our neighbors in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Robbinsdale, and Golden Valley, have enacted similar measures. It is time for St. Louis Park to join them.