01-27 Bill 2026-03 Published in FullCity of Richfield January 27, 2026
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2026-03
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Motion by: Coleman-Woods
Seconded by: Burk
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE LIMITING THE USE OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY FOR
CIVIL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT STAGING PURPOSES
THE CITY OF RICHFIELD DOES ORDAIN:
SECTION 1.
PREAMBLE.
1.01 The City of Richfield (“City”) values the safety, dignity, equal protection and treatment,
and human rights of all of its residents, regardless of race, religion, immigration status, or
national origin. The City is home to persons of diverse racial, ethnic, and national
backgrounds, including a significant immigrant and refugee population.
1.02 The City believes it is a safer, healthier, and more vibrant community when the City is
able to maintain a relationship of trust, respect, and cooperation with its residents.
1.03 In December 2025, federal immigration enforcement action dramatically increased in the
Twin Cities metro area as part of its Operation Metro Surge. These actions have led to
the deployment of approximately 3,000 federal officers to the Twin Cities, a number which
exceeds the combined total of the ten largest Twin Cities metro police forces and dwarfs
that of the City. The federal immigration enforcement actions have led to the arrest of
over 2,000 individuals.
1.04 The federal immigration enforcement action has occurred within and around the City and
has targeted those within the City. On January 8, 2026, a highly publicized federal
immigration enforcement action involved the arrest of two U.S. citizens at a retail store
within the City. These individuals worked within the City at that store. This immigration
enforcement action resulting in the arrest of US citizens indicates a general danger to
those who live and work within the City.
1.05 The federal immigration enforcement action has broadly sown fear within the Twin Cities,
including among City residents. It has led to the closure of schools, retail establishments,
and the cancellation of planned events.
1.06 The trust, respect, and cooperation would likely be irreparably damaged, particularly
between the City and immigrant communities, if the City allowed its property to be used
for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws.
1.07 Although the federal government has the legal authority to enforce federal immigration
laws in the United States, in Minnesota, and in the City, the City opposes any use of its
property for the enforcement of federal immigration laws. The city believes any such use
City of Richfield January 27, 2026
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2026-03
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of its property would have deleterious effects on public safety and have a chilling effect on
the City’s current and future immigrant populations’ willingness to report crime and
cooperate with the city’s public safety efforts.
1.08 By this ordinance, the city seeks to clarify the permitted use of city property with respect
to any and all efforts to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement
of any federal civil immigration law and any federal criminal immigration law that
penalizes a person's presence in, entry, or reentry to, or employment in, the United
States, when not accompanied by other criminal conduct (collectively, "federal
immigration laws").
1.09 This ordinance qualifies as an emergency ordinance under Richfield City Charter Section
3.06 as it is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety,
and welfare for the aforementioned reasons.
SECTION 2.
2.01 DEFINITIONS
(A) “Non-public City spaces” means areas owned or controlled by the city that are
not accessible to the general public. Examples of non-public City spaces
include, but are not limited to, restricted areas requiring badge access, rental
spaces, breakrooms, workstations (including those in an open area if the
general public is not permitted in the workstation), storage closets, and
employee-only areas.
(B) "Staging area" means an area that is used to assemble, mobilize, and/or
deploy vehicles, equipment, or materials, and related personnel, for the
purpose of carrying out operations for the enforcement of civil immigration
laws.
2.02 PROHIBITION ON USE OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY
(A) All City-owned or City-controlled park spaces, parking lots, ramps, vacant lots,
and garages are not open to the general public without restrictions. No federal,
state, or local government entity or personnel is authorized to use any city-
owned or city-controlled parking lot or ramp, vacant lot, or garage as a staging
area, processing location, operations base, or any other similar use including for
enforcing civil immigration laws. Such spaces are not available to the general
public for similar activities, and federal, state, or local government entities or
personnel will not receive special or enhanced access to city property for
operations enforcing civil immigration laws. Nothing herein shall prohibit the City
police department from using any city property for any law enforcement purpose.
City of Richfield January 27, 2026
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2026-03
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(B)The city restricts access to non-public City spaces. Non-public City spaces are
not open for the purposes of enforcement of civil immigration laws except with a
judicial warrant or when access is otherwise required by law. City employees do
not have the legal authority to consent to permit access to non-public City spaces
in situations where a judicial warrant or other legal obligation would otherwise
be necessary to gain access.
2.03 SCOPE. This ordinance is not intended to and shall not be construed to interfere with
the City's compliance with the terms of any contract or grant in effect as of the effective
date of this ordinance to which the City is a party. This ordinance does not apply to
property owned by the federal government and operated by or leased to the City.
Nothing herein shall be construed as restricting or interfering with the execution of
court orders or lawful judicial warrants, or the enforcement of criminal law, nor as
limiting the rights of any person or entity under state or federal law.
SECTION 3. This ordinance will be effective in accordance with Section 3.09 of the City Charter.
Adopted by the City of Richfield this 27th day of January, 2026.
VOTING AYE VOTING NAY
Supple, Mary Supple, Mary
Burk, Walter Burk, Walter
Christensen, Sharon Christensen, Sharon
Coleman-Woods, Rori Coleman-Woods, Rori
Hayford Oleary, Sean Hayford Oleary, Sean
Mary B. Supple, Mayor
ATTEST:
Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk