St. Paul City Council Demands Investigation into Police Use of Force during ICE Operation
The St. Paul City Council has called for a thorough investigation into the use of force by St. Paul police officers during a federal immigration enforcement operation in the city. The operation, which took place on Tuesday, resulted in the arrest of two men and sparked concerns about the police department’s adherence to the city’s separation ordinance.
Community Concerns and City Council Response
All seven city council members, Mayor Melvin Carter, and Mayor-elect Kaohly Her have raised concerns about the police department’s actions during the operation, including the deployment of chemical irritants and projectiles. The city council will be asking the Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission (PCIARC) to examine the police department’s adherence to the city’s separation ordinance and seeking an audit of the public cost incurred.
The city’s separation ordinance prohibits city employees from enforcing federal immigration policies. Police Chief Axel Henry stated that the city’s officers did not violate this ordinance, as they were not engaging in immigration enforcement but rather ensuring that laws were not broken in the city.
Federal Authorities’ Involvement and Arrests
Federal authorities arrested two men during the operation, one of whom was previously removed from the U.S. and had illegally re-entered. The other man is charged with assaulting a federal officer after allegedly striking an ICE officer’s vehicle with his own vehicle.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that a large number of people, referred to as “rioters,” arrived at the scene and that ICE agents used crowd control measures to ensure public and officer safety. However, City Council Member Cheniqua Johnson expressed concerns about the impact of the event on community trust, stating that “no matter the explanations offered or the intentions behind yesterday’s events, the impact remains the same: trust between our community, our St. Paul Police Department, and the city has been broken.”
Journalists Injured and Police Response
At least three local photojournalists were injured by less-lethal munitions deployed by St. Paul police officers while covering the story. The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists stated that the journalists believe they were targeted by law enforcement for doing their jobs.
Mayor Carter expressed concern about the injuries to journalists, stating that “the conduct we saw yesterday was jarring.” He has directed a thorough review of all St. Paul police body-worn camera footage to ensure transparency and accountability.
The St. Paul Police Federation stated that officers responded to federal agents’ call for help and used the minimum force necessary to end the threat and restore order. However, PCIARC chairperson Sarah Florman wrote that she witnessed officers deploying pepper balls and aerosol gas on peaceful protesters, and that officers were safe in their vehicles when they stopped to deploy these agents.
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