Minneapolis bars immigration enforcement staging on city-owned lots

Sofia Barnett, Star Tribune on Dec 3, 2025

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Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Wednesday signed an executive order blocking federal, state and local agencies from using any city-owned parking lots, ramps, garages or vacant lots to stage immigration enforcement operations.

The directive, effective immediately, follows reports that the Trump administration is preparing targeted enforcement actions against Somali immigrants in the Twin Cities.

“Minneapolis is — and will remain — a city that stands up for our residents,” Frey said in a statement. “City parking lots need to be used for city purposes, which do not include civil immigration enforcement. There’s no place in our Minneapolis for fear-based tactics or operations that undermine community trust.”

Federal agents in at least one other city have used municipal parking lots as staging sites, prompting Chicago to adopt a similar ban earlier this year. Minneapolis officials said local advocates urged Frey to take the same precaution.

Frey’s order cites the city’s long-standing Separation Ordinance, which bars city employees from using local resources to enforce civil immigration law.

City departments must now identify all properties that could be used as immigration-enforcement staging areas, install signage stating such use is prohibited and add physical barriers such as locked gates where appropriate. Any employee who becomes aware of a violation must immediately notify their department head. Failure to do so may lead to discipline, including termination.

The executive order also directs city staff to design a signage template that private property owners can voluntarily use to mark nonpublic areas as off-limits for civil immigration enforcement activity.

The order does not override existing contracts or limit criminal law enforcement, execution of court orders or judicial warrants.

The full text of the executive order is available on the city’s website.

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