St. Paul leaders are taking a stand against President Trump’s immigration policies, vowing not to cooperate with federal agents and pledging to protect their immigrant communities. During a packed immigration safety forum at Neighborhood House, city, school, and state officials made their message clear: Trump’s deportation plans won’t go unchallenged.
City officials push back
City Council President Mitra Jalali declared that St. Paul would do everything possible to keep residents safe. Deputy Mayor Jaime Tincher reminded attendees that the city has refused to aid federal immigration enforcement since 2004. Now, frontline workers are being trained on how to handle ICE agents, with legal teams ready to intervene when necessary.
Schools fortify defenses
St. Paul schools aren’t backing down either. School Board Member Carlo Franco said ICE agents aren’t allowed in without authorization, and bus drivers have been instructed not to remove students afraid of deportation. The district is updating policies and tracking student absenteeism to measure the impact of immigration enforcement.
State vows legal action
Minnesota’s Chief Deputy Attorney General John Keller slammed Trump’s immigration policies as unconstitutional, promising to challenge them in court. Meanwhile, Attorney General Keith Ellison joined other Democratic leaders in a lawsuit to stop Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship.
Protests erupt
Hours after the forum, thousands took to the streets of Minneapolis, chanting against mass deportations. Activist Dieu Do fired up the crowd: “They think we’ll back down—no, we won’t! We will fight in the streets, in the courts, and in our communities.”
