Progress in the Park

Proposing a Separation Ordinance for St Louis Park

When communities fear interacting with government agencies, they are less likely to report crime, serve as witnesses, or appear in court. This creates additional barriers for our police and other emergency services, makes solving crimes harder for law enforcement, and makes all residents less safe.

What is a separation ordinance? A separation ordinance is a formal municipal ordinance that ensures city resources and law enforcement remain focused strictly on local public safety. It establishes clear boundaries and role scope for St. Louis Park city employees and police when they interact with federal agents.

Internal Police Policy vs. Codified Municipal Law

Currently, the St. Louis Park Police Department operates under internal administrative policies regarding cooperation with federal immigration agencies.

Internal department policies do not carry the permanent force of a local ordinance. They can be altered administratively by the police without public notice, a city council vote, or community input.

If internal department policies are violated, residents lack legal avenues to ensure compliance or hold the department accountable. A formal separation ordinance codifies these boundaries directly into the St. Louis Park City Code, providing binding operational clarity for city staff and consistent protections for all neighbors.

The Public Safety Case for Jurisdictional Boundaries

When our community members fear interacting with local government, overall community safety decreases. This fear creates systemic barriers to public safety across all St. Louis Park neighborhoods:

  • Victims and witnesses hesitate to report crimes to local authorities, allowing public safety threats to persist.
  • Public safety investigations stall when community members fear that appearing in court or assisting investigators carries a risk of detention.
  • Individuals delay seeking emergency medical attention, creating a ripple effect that impacts family stability and public health.

Ensuring that city workers and law enforcement remain focused on local public safety within their explicit jurisdiction – rather than federal enforcement – strengthens trust and makes our community safer.

Our St Louis Park Policy Requests

Other cities, such as Minneapolis and Robbinsdale, have already adopted a separation ordinance – why not St Louis Park?

Here is what we are proposing:

  1. City shall not enter into an agreement with federal government to participate in federal immigration laws. 
  2. Police officers shall not undertake any law enforcement action for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws or to verify immigration status of any person
  3. Police officers shall not arrest, detain, question any person for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws, including participation in checkpoints or through traffic stops 

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