St. Paul City Council Seeks Investigation into Police Use of Force during ICE Operation
The St. Paul City Council is pushing for an investigation into the use of force by police during a recent federal immigration operation. The operation, which took place on November 25, resulted in the arrest of two individuals and raised concerns about the city’s separation ordinance.
All seven city council members, including Mayor Melvin Carter and Mayor-elect Kaohly Her, have expressed concerns about the deployment of chemical irritants and projectiles by St. Paul officers. The council has also questioned the presence of city officers during the ICE operation, which was carried out in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood. According to the city’s separation ordinance, city employees are not authorized to enforce federal immigration policies.
Investigation and Review
The city council has called for a “thorough investigation” into the use of force and adherence to the separation ordinance. The council is working to determine who should conduct an independent investigation, with the results to be presented to the city’s Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission for review. The council will also be asking the city’s Office of Financial Services to determine the police costs associated with the operation.
St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry has stated that the city’s officers did not violate the separation ordinance, as they were not engaged in immigration enforcement. However, the council remains concerned about the use of force and the potential implications for the community. The Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission has unanimously voted to call for an independent investigation, which is expected to be presented to the council for review.
Community Response and Next Steps
The incident has sparked a strong response from the community, with many residents expressing concerns about the use of force and the presence of ICE agents in the city. The Immigrant Defense Network alerted its “rapid response network” on social media, and people quickly gathered at the scene to protest the operation. The Department of Homeland Security has stated that ICE agents used crowd control measures to ensure public safety, but the city council remains committed to investigating the incident and ensuring that the rights of all residents are protected.
The city council is expected to introduce a resolution on the matter at its next meeting, which will be voted on by the council members. The resolution will aim to address the concerns raised by the community and ensure that the city’s separation ordinance is upheld. For more information on this developing story, please visit Here
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