Title
RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TO ISSUE AN EMERGENCY EXECUTIVE ORDER INSTITUTING A TEMPORARY STATEWIDE PROGRAM OF FINANCIAL RESIDENTIAL PROTECTION TO FAMILIES DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY OPERATION METRO SURGE (REPLACEMENT)
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BY COUNCILORS CLANAUGH AND DURRWACHTER:
WHEREAS, the city of Duluth is committed to the safety, stability and well-being of all who live, work and do business in the city and surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota is currently experiencing the largest immigration operation by the Department of Homeland Security in the nation’s history, with the Trump administration claiming to have sent over 3,000 agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and other federal agencies to Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, the public has experienced and documented countless instances of federal agents targeting and harassing residents based on the color of their skin, style of speech, neighborhood of residence, regardless of immigration status; and
WHEREAS, federal agents have been escalating violence against legal observers and community members protecting their neighbors, including Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti who were murdered by ICE agents in January, 2026; and
WHEREAS, these threatening and violent attacks on our residents have occurred in public spaces including schools, streets, hospitals, sidewalks, grocery stores, places of worship, and bus stops. As a result, many residents are unable to move freely due to the threat of harassment, violence, and abduction, forcing them to shelter-in place and impacting their ability to work and provide for their families; and
WHEREAS, residents around the state have reported difficulty in getting safely to work, school, healthcare and accessing essential services, negatively affecting household stability and local economic activity; and
WHEREAS, during prior state emergencies, temporary eviction protections were implemented to prevent people from losing their homes and to allow for coordinated government response; and
WHEREAS, the city council seeks to uphold its values of accountability, community, equity, safety and integrity, while recognizing the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and housing providers; and
WHEREAS, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Governor Walz issued Executive Orders 20-14, 20-73, and 20-79, which imposed an eviction moratorium and gave residents statewide a lifeline and protection during an unprecedented national crisis; and
WHEREAS, it often takes months for impacted individuals to navigate bureaucratic financial assistance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the city council respectfully requests the Governor of Minnesota to declare a State of Emergency under Minnesota law to acknowledge the extraordinary threat posed by these federal operations to the peace and safety of the state’s residents.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city council respectfully requests the Governor of Minnesota to consider temporary eviction and foreclosure protections to address the current extraordinary circumstances, with the goal of preventing displacement, supporting economic stability, allow state and local partners time to respond in a coordinated and measured manner to distribute rental and mortgage assistance.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city council calls on the state legislature to provide $50 million in targeted emergency financial assistance to directly impacted individuals due to federal ICE enforcement activities in Minnesota, and to support recovery and stabilization efforts for residents and businesses. These funds should be distributed via the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) that already has established proven methods to distribute emergency housing stability funds for rents and mortgages.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the legislature immediately strengthen eviction protections under state law. During the state of emergency, we recommend you use your power to strengthen existing law so that all Minnesotans may remain safe at home. This includes: amending 504B.321 to increase the pre-eviction notice period from 14 to 30 days; and increase eviction vacation time from 7 to 14 days.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that government agencies that are tasked with operating public housing and other subsidized programs (Public Housing Agencies, Housing and Redevelopment Authorities, Community Development Agencies, etc.) should immediately pause evictions for a minimum of 3-months for nonpayment of rent to individuals directly affected by Operation Metro Surge, until the ICE operation ceases. Nothing in this request relieves a tenant’s obligation to pay rent. This suspension does not include eviction actions based on cases where the tenant seriously endangers the safety of other residents or for violations of Minnesota Statutes 2019, section 504B.171, subdivision 1.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution calls on the Minnesota governor, the state
legislature, and Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) to institute a temporary program of
protection to families directly affected by unprecedented immigration enforcement actions by
ICE during Operation Metro Surge. In addition, the resolution requests financial assistance for
agencies administering funds to support recovery and stabilization efforts which includes
application assistance (including translation) for residents.