Robbinsdale Mayor Brad Sutton: “We’re not cooperating” With ICE
Robbinsdale Mayor Brad Sutton told CCX Media’s Dave Kiser that the city is committed to not working with federal immigration enforcement efforts, as the federal government has pledged a drawdown of agents in the region after a six-month roundup.
“We’re living through one of those moments that will probably be re-told in history books and classrooms for a long time, and residents are understandably scared,” said Sutton. “We’ve got policies in place today that city staff and city property, city resources. We’re not cooperating in a way that we’re not enforcing federal immigration. That’s not our job, that’s not Robbinsdale PD’s job. They do not enforce immigration law.”
Sutton said the city has resources for residents and business owners available on the city’s website so everyone can access information about rights and city policies.
“We want to make sure that residents know city services are open to them regardless of their immigration status. God forbid somebody doesn’t want to call 911 because they’re afraid somebody’s going to show up and hand them over to ICE. That is not what we do,” said Sutton. “That is our policy. It’s been in place. It continues to be in place today.”
The city may take up ordinances to codify many of these policies into law, Sutton said.
“We recognize that this may be important to residents, and we want to respond,” he said.
Sutton said the city will host a town hall meeting on February 23 at 6:00 p.m.
“With inspiration from our friends over in Golden Valley, we want to have a town hall to let residents come and give their experience and let them tell their stories with what they’re seeing with ICE, too,” said Sutton. “This is all about the city wanting to listen and making sure we’re being mindful, right, of what’s on residents’ minds as we consider these policies going forward.”
