Mayor of St. Paul on escalation of ICE operations in her city

Key Concepts

• Increased ICE Enforcement: Heightened immigration enforcement operations by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), DHS (Department of Homeland Security), and related agencies in St. Paul, Minnesota.
• Non-Coordination with Federal Agents: The St. Paul city government’s policy of not coordinating with federal immigration enforcement.
• Federal Investigation & Subpoenas: A federal investigation into local leaders, including the mayor, regarding potential obstruction of ICE operations following the shooting of Renee Good.
• Community Impact of Enforcement: The emotional, economic, and social consequences of increased immigration enforcement on St. Paul’s diverse communities, particularly the Southeast Asian, Karen, and Somali populations.
• Immigrant Contributions to St. Paul: The significant role immigrants play in the economic, social, and cultural fabric of the city.

Increased Immigration Enforcement & Local Response

The interview focuses on the escalating immigration enforcement activities in St. Paul, Minnesota, beginning around mid-2023 and intensifying after Mayor Khalur took office three weeks prior to the interview. Mayor Khalur notes that enforcement has expanded beyond initial targeting of the Southeast Asian community to now include the Karen and Somali communities, leading to increased tensions. She states, “there’s been a little known fact that some of this immigration enforcement has been going on since, you know, the middle of last year…and it has just been amping up.”

The city maintains a policy of non-coordination with federal immigration agents. Instead, the city responds to concerns raised by residents regarding potential ICE, DHS, or DHI (likely referring to Detention and Removal Operations) activity. This response involves dispatching local police to assess situations and, when necessary, requesting federal agents to leave city parks and properties where staging is prohibited. “Because we don't coordinate with federal agents that we actually don't have day-to-day interaction…we’re responding in the moment when we are getting information from our community members.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walls activated the National Guard in St. Paul, leading to potential confusion and misunderstandings between state/local officials and ICE.

Federal Investigation & Allegations of Impedance

Following the shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis, Mayor Khalur and other local leaders were subpoenaed as part of a federal investigation accusing them of impeding ICE operations. The mayor firmly denies any intentional obstruction, stating it would be “hard for me to find an example of one where we would have that.” She emphasizes the difficulty in impeding operations when the city lacks clear information about ICE’s plans and targets. She attempted to understand ICE operations even before becoming mayor, as a state representative in April 2025, but found it challenging to obtain information. “It’s really difficult to be impeding something when the plan…there isn’t a plan laid out so that you know what it is that is happening.”

Impact of Federal Policies & Recent Violence

The interview addresses the emotional toll of recent events, particularly the shooting of Renee Good and a subsequent shooting days later. Mayor Khalur connects the latter incident to a perceived policy of “retribution” from the federal administration. She states, “when we have a federal administration that says that there's retribution to be paid and they make good on that, it is not surprising that we escalate to a place in which my people are getting killed on the streets.” She describes the resulting chaos, destruction, and economic/emotional impact on the community, expressing hope for a “breather” and a “reset” with a change in federal leadership.

Immigrant Contributions to St. Paul

Mayor Khalur, herself an immigrant, highlights the vital contributions of immigrants to St. Paul’s society. She emphasizes their presence in all sectors of the city, including business, homeownership, childcare, development, education, and law enforcement. She points out that Asians represent the second-largest demographic in St. Paul. She expresses heartbreak at the targeting of law-abiding immigrant citizens who have revitalized economically struggling areas of the city. “Immigrants are such a critical part of St. Paul…we are a part of every industry here in our city.” She refutes the narrative that enforcement focuses solely on criminals, asserting that immigrants are integral to the city’s identity and well-being, particularly in a city that is “almost majority minority.”

Logical Connections

The interview progresses logically from describing the increased enforcement activities to addressing the resulting legal challenges and community impact. The discussion then shifts to the broader context of immigrant contributions and the mayor’s personal connection to the issue. The connection between federal policies, local responses, and the recent violence is a central theme throughout the conversation.

Data & Statistics

• Second Largest Demographic: Asians constitute the second-largest demographic group in St. Paul.
• Enforcement Timeline: Increased immigration enforcement began around mid-2023 and intensified after the mayor took office.
• April 2025: Mayor Khalur attempted to understand ICE operations as a state representative in April 2025.

Conclusion

The interview paints a picture of a city grappling with heightened immigration enforcement, a lack of transparency from federal agencies, and the resulting emotional and economic strain on its diverse communities. Mayor Khalur strongly defends her city’s policy of non-coordination with ICE, denies any intentional obstruction of federal operations, and emphasizes the invaluable contributions of immigrants to St. Paul’s identity and prosperity. The interview underscores the complex relationship between local communities and federal immigration policies and the human cost of escalating enforcement measures.