Title
Urging hotels to not house federal immigration agents.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul is a welcoming and inclusive city that values and supports immigrants and refugees; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul recognizes the strength, diversity, and economic vitality that immigrants and refugees contribute to the community; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul has demonstrated its commitment to protecting immigrant communities through policies and investments that promote safety, inclusion, and trust; and
WHEREAS, federal immigration enforcement practices, including large-scale enforcement operations, have generated widespread fear and disruption in communities across the nation; and
WHEREAS, residents of Saint Paul have reported increased anxiety, fear, and economic hardship as a result of heightened immigration enforcement activities in the Twin Cities metropolitan area; and
WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota has experienced an unusually large deployment of federal immigration agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP); and
WHEREAS, the presence of these federal personnel housed in local hotels has caused significant public safety concerns among residents, workers, and business owners in the City of Saint Paul;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council strongly urges hotels operating within the City of Saint Paul to refrain from housing federal immigration agents, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to relevant City departments and hotel industry stakeholders for awareness.