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Requesting the City Attorney’s Office and the Human Rights & Equal Economic Opportunity Department to support Saint Paul residents detained at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) Pursuant to President Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban.
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WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul is committed to inclusivity, compassion and equity among all its residents, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, or country of origin; and recognizes that diversity is a vital piece of who we are, as a City and a country; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council passed RES 15-2233 condemning hate speech from then presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2015; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council passed RES 16-2122 supporting the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Saint Paul in 2016; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council stands proudly with its Muslim residents and its immigrant communities from all over the world, and therefore strongly opposes President Donald Trump’s executive order to halt refugee admissions and a 90-day ban on entry for citizens of select Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East and North Africa as an immoral and un-American action that will cause undue harm to individuals, families and our community at large; and
WHEREAS, no refugee from any of the countries singled out by the President’s order has ever committed an act of terrorism against the United States; and
WHEREAS, refugees from the specified countries are in flight for their lives and the lives of their children, due to persecution in their country of origin; and
WHEREAS, refugees arriving in the United States from the specific countries have already been vetted by United States Government Officials and determined to meet the definition of “refugee” in United States statute and international law and not to pose a threat to the United States; and
WHEREAS, the order’s indefinite ban on Syrians and suspension of the US refugee and asylum program for 120 days allows the US to turn its back on those most in need of humanitarian aid; and
WHEREAS, St. Paul stands behind the American Civil Liberties Union, American Immigration Lawyers Association, federal judges, and other organizations fighting to protect the rights of all Americans and those hoping to become Americans; and
WHEREAS, this measure isolates the United States from its allies and conflicts with core American values; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) owns and operates the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP); and
WHEREAS, the MAC’s mission is to connect us to our world; and
WHEREAS, the Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity Department (HREEO) champions justice and equity by confronting issues of discrimination and providing innovative avenues for accessibility and economic opportunities for all residents and businesses. HREEO achieves these goals by consistently delivering quality customer service, being a voice and advocate within the city and metro area, building relationships throughout the community, and enforcing laws; and now therefore be it
RESOLVED, the St. Paul City Council requests the City Attorney’s office to regularly request and obtain the names of St. Paul residents who have been detained at MSP from the MAC; and further
RESOLVED, the Council requests the City Attorney’s office to work with HREEO to provide St. Paul residents with support and resources to reunite residents with their families in Minnesota.