Council divided over $300K police grant with immigration language | The Minneapolis Recorder

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StoryBusiness, Housing and Zoning Committee report — 20 items including liquor licenses and appointmentsJuly 30, 2026

Council divided over $300K police grant with immigration language

The Minneapolis City Council grappled Wednesday with whether to accept a $300,000 federal grant to modernize the police department's ballistics equipment, with Council Member Chavez opposing the funding over objectionable language in the grant notice referring to 'illegal aliens.' The debate highlighted tensions between public safety needs and the city's values around immigrant rights.

Published Jul 30, 2026

The Department of Justice's NIBIN Modernization Program grant would fund five years of maintenance for ballistic imaging equipment that helps police match crime guns to past crimes. Police Commander Chris Brown explained the system's value, describing how Lieutenant Schroeder obtained six hits connecting a gun to other Minneapolis crimes while waiting to present. He noted the equipment, installed in 2014, is reaching the end of its service life.

However, the grant's notice of funding opportunity contains language barring funded programs from "impeding federal immigration enforcement" and refers to "illegal aliens"—terminology that conflicts with Minneapolis's 2021 separation ordinance, which limits police cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Council Member Chavez called the language "disrespectful" and "dehumanizing," stating: "I do not accept the idea that undocumented immigrants are quote aliens or quote illegal." She announced she will not support the grant and plans to introduce a counter-resolution.

Other council members acknowledged the problematic language while supporting the grant. Council Member Palmisano said she could "both agree with Council Member Chavez that this is abhorrent language and also agree to get this machine's upkeep funded." She cited an Uptown restaurant shooting last week, noting employees are waiting anxiously for ballistics results. Council Vice President Osman added: "this grant helps our police officers capture the bad guys."

Lead Assistant City Attorney Amy Shut reported that her office created a special review process for federal grant terms due to an increase in problematic conditions since the Trump administration began. She determined the grant's language, while inappropriate, does not legally require the city to reject it under the separation ordinance.

The council also approved special law approval for food hall licenses and forwarded multiple committee items to Thursday's full council meeting, including two contested Democracy Center rezoning items and the nomination of Dr. Freeman as fire chief—both forwarded without committee recommendations, signaling potential council resistance.

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Areas of Interest (9)

Council split over accepting DOJ NIBIN grant whose funding notice references apprehending 'illegal aliens' — Chavez to oppose, plans counter-resolution
City attorney's office created a special review process for federal grant terms due to increase in problematic conditions under Trump administration
Grant notice bars funded programs from 'impeding federal immigration enforcement' — potential tension with Minneapolis separation ordinance
Two contested Democracy Center items (3000 Minnehaha rezoning and FGNC appeal) forwarded without recommendation
Fire chief nomination of Dr. Freeman advancing without committee recommendation — signs of council resistance
MPD ballistic equipment installed in 2014 reaching end of service life; $300,000 grant would shift five-year upkeep cost off city
Uptown restaurant shooting: employees awaiting ballistics results highlight processing delays
Three council members absent (Wsley, Rainville, Stevenson) during key public safety discussion
ELR committee bringing two legal settlements plus a claim settlement in city's favor — amounts undisclosed

Votes (2)

Adopt the agenda

AdoptedVoice vote — ayes prevail

Moved by Unidentified council member · Seconded by Unidentified council member

Approve the consent agenda (special law approval for food hall licenses)

CarriedVoice vote — ayes prevail

Moved by Chair Orin Chowry · Seconded by Unidentified council member

Notable Quotes (11)

I want to be very clear to my community that this language is disrespectful. It is dehumanizing, and it is not in alignment with our values here in Minneapolis.
— Chavez

NIBIN grant / immigration languageObjecting to DOJ notice of funding opportunity

I do not accept the premise implicit or explicit in this or any federal instrument that immigrant residents are a threat to public safety requiring locating and apprehending.
— Chavez

Immigrant rightsNIBIN grant debate

I will not be supporting this program.
— Chavez

NIBIN grantAnnouncing opposition

we have been seeing an increase in these terms since the beginning of the Trump administration and that is the reason that my office has set up a process for reviewing terms of all grants that the city is applying for.
— Amy Shut

Federal grant terms

People (18)

Orin ChowryCouncil Member, Chair of Committee of the Whole

Called meeting to order, gave Climate and Infrastructure report

ChugtaiCouncil Member, Vice Chair of Committee of the Whole

Welcomed back to committee; questioned need for NIBIN grant

1 quote

“the city isn't going to lose access to a system that is critical as a result of not submitting a proposal to receive this grant”

Questioning necessity of NIBIN grant

OsmanCouncil Vice President, Chair of Business Housing and Zoning Committee

Presented 20 BHZ items; questioned grant's immigration ties

2 quotes

“we can't control what our president says”

Supporting NIBIN grant despite federal language

“this grant helps our police officers capture the bad guys”

Places Mentioned

3000 Minnehaha Avenue (Democracy Center)219 Fourth Street (People Serving People)Thomas Avenue North and Oak Park Avenue, North MinneapolisMidtown Greenway / Grand Avenue South BridgeCedar Lake Road Bridge2nd Avenue North skyway easementWest Fulton neighborhoodColumbia Heights membrane plantUptownMinneapolis Convention CenterHennepin Technical CollegeBridge 9

Events & Meetings (7)

Committee of the Whole regular meeting, July 28, 2026
Thursday council meeting — committee items forwarded
Dinner du Nord commercial block event permit, September 10, 2026
Banana Ball games block event permit, August 7–9, 2026
August 9, 2023 — North Minneapolis homicide case study
2014 — current brass tracks NIBIN equipment installed
2002 — MPD joined NIBIN program

Ordinances & Resolutions (9)

BHZ Item 4

FGNC appeal regarding 3000 Minnehaha Ave (Democracy Center); forwarded without recommendation

BHZ Item 20

Rezoning and alley vacation for Democracy Center at 3000 Minnehaha; forwarded without recommendation

BHZ Item 9

Amends 2029 license fee schedule for tow trucking services fee

ELR Item 1

Legislative process reform, research and recommendations directive

ELR Item 8

Indebtedness and bond issuance authorization for outstanding capital improvement bonds

PHSE Item 1

Mayor's nomination of Dr. Freeman as fire chief; forwarded without recommendation

PHSE Item 7

Legislative directive on neighborhood safety department contract management audit

Consent item

Special law approval for food hall licenses, submitted by Intergovernmental Relations

Source document

Open source document

THE MINNEAPOLIS RECORDER

Council divided over $300K police grant with immigration language

Other Topics from This Document

Mayor's nomination of Henrique Velasquez as director of regulatory services

FGNC appeal and rezoning/alley vacation for 3000 Minnehaha Ave (Democracy Center)

Affordable Housing Trust Fund and NOAH program changes

Climate and Infrastructure Committee report — 13 items

Southwest light rail subordinate funding agreement No. 14

Minneapolis Street Lighting Plan Amendment; Cedar Lake Road Bridge project

Green stormwater infrastructure, West Fulton neighborhood improvement

Enterprise Labor Relations Committee report — 10 items, legal settlements, bonds

Legislative process reform research and recommendations directive

Public Health, Safety and Equity Committee — 7 items

Mayor's nomination of Dr. Freeman as fire chief (no recommendation)

Police cadet program contract with Hennepin Technical College

911 quality assurance software contract amendment

Community trauma response services contracts

Neighborhood safety department contract management audit directive

Special law approval for food hall licenses (consent agenda)

DOJ 2026 NIBIN Modernization Program grant application ($300,000 over five years)

Federal grant language referring to 'illegal aliens' and separation ordinance concerns

Ballistic evidence processing, crime gun intelligence, gun violence reduction

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