Minneapolis City Council Urges Eviction Moratorium Amid ICE Raids
By Clint Combs | The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a resolution urging Gov. Tim Walz to impose a temporary eviction moratorium as ongoing ICE raids displace residents, shutter businesses, and destabilize housing across Minnesota.
All members of the Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution calling on Governor Tim Walz to impose an eviction moratorium during ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that have shuttered businesses, closed schools, and strained city budgets.
The resolution, sponsored by Ward 2 Council Member Robin Wonsley, urges Walz to issue an executive order that would prevent evictions for the duration of the federal immigration enforcement operations.
“ICE is creating a statewide crisis that requires our governor to step up and step in and ensure that nobody is evicted without an eviction moratorium,” Wonsley said. “Thousands of vulnerable families and residents are facing eviction as soon as February 1.”
Wonsley also criticized Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Gov. Walz for deploying police and National Guard, respectively, to respond to protesters and immigrant communities. “Governor Walz and Mayor Frey have been very clear that they are unable or unwilling to use law enforcement to protect residents at this time,” she said.
Council Member Jamal Osman emphasized that only the governor can issue an eviction moratorium. “That’s why we need leadership that stands with families, not leadership that leaves them on their own,” Osman said.
Council Member Jason Chavez praised community members assisting immigrants during the raids. “These are heroes that are literally in our communities, and they’re doing it because they love immigrants,” he said. “So while the federal government wants to demonize immigrant communities, folks in Minneapolis are saying, ‘We love our neighbors.’”
Chavez highlighted the fear facing residents. “The sad reality is that we do not know when this occupation in Minneapolis and in this state is going to end,” he said. “Our neighbors are actually not sheltering in place because they’re scared of being evicted from their rental units.”
Chavez urged Governor Walz to act. “We are calling on you, Governor, for an eviction moratorium,” he said. “I am not sure how many more people need to get shot in the leg for you to do your job. I’m not sure how many people need to get killed for you to call a state of emergency. I’m not sure how many homes need to get tear-gassed for you to call for a state of emergency.”
Council Member Lane Brown said, “We know there are solutions embedded in our community, and we know how to plant, grow and share them. But we need Governor Walz to step up and help us.”
Jess Zarik, co-executive director of Homeline, reported a surge in tenant concerns over ICE activity. “Over the last 45 days, we’ve seen a massive increase in calls from tenants specifically regarding the presence of ICE in our communities,” she said. “It’s not limited to Minneapolis or St. Paul. We’re hearing from renters across the state. The fear is widespread and growing.”
Tenants have reported that ICE agents show up in apartment complexes, and landlords allegedly assist them to grant access. “Agents are pulling fire alarms to force people out of their homes, and tenants are being threatened with deportation for asserting basic housing rights,” Zarik said.
Council Member Pearll Warren called ICE’s presence “toxic.” “This does not sustain our families in the long term,” she said. “Are we bailing out property owners? This is a band-aid on a bullet wound.”
Patrick Berry, a formerly unhoused resident now living in Stevens Square, responded to Warren, “‘Band-aid on a bullet wound’ is a poor choice of words considering that a woman is dead.”
Cecil Smith, president of the Minnesota Multi-Housing Association, supported Warren’s argument that the housing market is still recovering from Covid-era rent pauses. “Even this discussion is distracting our ability to attract resources for future development,” Smith said.
Clyde Warren, a member of the IPG Tenant Union, and fellow union members attended the rally before the Jan. 15 vote. “Whether or not people have status, a work permit, or citizenship, all immigrants are terrified right now,” he said. “This is not the story of one person. This is reality for hundreds and hundreds of our neighbors.”
Warren added, “What we’re seeing is economic harm pushed onto our people through this racist immigration enforcement while housing courts and eviction processes operate like nothing has changed.”
Dex Anderson, a disability advocate and Ward 10 resident, criticized Council Member Linea Palmisano for leaving during public comment. “Good Linea came back in time to hear this because apparently she didn’t want to hear public comment today,” he said.
Anderson emphasized the role of immigrant workers in disability care. “It’s BIPOC people helping people with disabilities with their care tasks, going to the doctor with their needs,” he said. He added that immigrant residents with disabilities are reluctant to seek medical care due to ICE activity.
Anderson described an incident involving Aliya Rahman, who was on her way to a traumatic brain injury center when she was pulled from her car by ICE agents. She ended up unconscious and was denied medical treatment while in ICE custody.
Clint Combs welcomes reader responses at combs0284@gmail.com.
