Rochester Council Divided on Involvement in Immigration Lawsuits

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - While the Rochester City Council was unanimous last night in approving a resolution reaffirming Rochester’s status as a “compassionate city,” elected officials were split on whether the city should be involved in lawsuits against the Trump administration over the ongoing immigration crackdown in Minnesota.

Compassionate City Resolution

The compassionate city resolution states the city recognizes the federal government is responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws but strongly urges federal authorities "not to break up families, deport those who do not have legal status but have otherwise been law-abiding, detain or deport anyone who is a victim or witness in an ongoing investigation, court proceeding, or trial, or conduct enforcement actions in schools, places of worship, or city building." It also states that the city and the Rochester Police Department will not enter into partnerships or written agreements with federal authorities “for the sake of enforcing federal civil immigration law.”

Debate Over Legal Action

The City Council also voted 4-3 to direct the City Attorney’s Office and city staff to gather information on the impacts of the federal immigration crackdown on the local community and submit it to federal courts in a so-called “friend of the court” brief supporting lawsuits seeking to halt the immigration enforcement campaign taking place in Minnesota. Councilmember Norman Wahl, who along with Councilmembers Shaun Palmer and Andy Friedrichs voted against the resolution, expressed “grave reservations” about the city’s involvement in the litigation.

Get our free mobile app

Partisan Politics Concerns

Councilmember Wahl noted that Rochester Mayor Kim Norton and two other former state legislators serving in local elected positions issued a warning prior to the 2024 elections about the dangers of partisan politics in local government. Wahl said he believes the city’s involvement in legal action against the federal government would “cross that line,” and argued that the federal lawsuit filed by Minneapolis and St. Paul reads as a partisan document.

ALSO SEE: Body Cameras Being Issued to All Federal Immigration Agents in MN

Police Data on ICE Activity

During discussion of the litigation resolution, Rochester Police Chief Jim Franklin was asked whether he had data involving possible ICE activity in the city. Franklin said his office had only recently begun compiling the data, but a preliminary count showed Rochester police officers responded to 18 calls concerning possible immigration enforcement activity over the past week or so. He added that the number was lower than expected.

The City Attorney advised the City Council that the potential cost of filing the court brief could range from $10,000 to $15,000.