Minneapolis Council Approves 2026 Agenda Amid Federal Immigration Crisis
The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved its 2026 legislative agenda on February 3, prioritizing state aid for economic losses caused by federal immigration enforcement operations. The council has temporarily restructured itself into a single committee to respond more quickly to what leaders describe as an ongoing crisis affecting residents, businesses, and city services.
The council voted 11-0 to approve the legislative agenda and federal policy update, with Council Member Wansley making the motion and Council Member Payne seconding it. The vote came as the city grapples with what Chair Chowry called an "ICE occupation" that has "gripped" neighborhoods across Minneapolis.
The Intergovernmental Relations team presented priorities for the state legislature that reflect the city's immediate concerns. Topping the list is seeking state assistance for the economic damage caused by federal immigration enforcement. The city's Intergovernmental Relations Director Katie Topinka estimated that local businesses are losing between $10 million and $20 million in revenue weekly. Other priorities include gun violence prevention, public official safety, affordable housing funding, and infrastructure improvements.
Council members expressed particular alarm about a looming "fiscal cliff" in homelessness funding—a $13 million gap identified in the previous legislative session. Without state support, the city risks losing critical shelter services and other assistance for unhoused residents. The council also discussed the impact of extreme weather and federal enforcement operations on vulnerable populations, with staff from the Homeless Response Team reporting they are now perceived negatively in the community due to past enforcement sweeps.
The council also scrutinized proposed federal Department of Homeland Security reforms, including body cameras and identification requirements for agents. Council Member Wansley criticized the proposals as inadequate, comparing them unfavorably to failed police reform efforts. "These proposals truly set the bar below hell," Wansley said, arguing that federal agents should not operate "in full disguise" without accountability.
The city's Regulatory Services Director reported that the Homeless Response Team made zero city-supported encampment closures in the fourth quarter of 2025, instead focusing on housing referrals and medical assistance. However, staff acknowledged they are changing tactics—wearing plain clothes and avoiding face coverings—to rebuild trust with unsheltered residents during the federal enforcement crisis.
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Votes (1)
2026 Legislative Agenda and Policy Positions; Federal Issues Update (Items 65 & 66)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Wansley [01:02:40] · Seconded by Council Member Payne [01:02:41]
The discussion opened with an overview of the temporary council restructuring due to the federal ICE occupation, setting an urgent tone for state and federal advocacy. The IGR team presented the city's state legislative priorities, covering critical areas such as seeking state aid for economic impacts of ICE, gun violence prevention, public official safety, economic development tools, affordable housing funding (fiscal cliff), and infrastructure improvements. The federal update detailed the partial government shutdown, proposed DHS reforms (e.g., body cameras, mask bans for agents), and federal funding for various programs, noting both flat appropriations and significant one-time infusions to border agencies. Council members engaged in detailed questions, with particular concern for the fiscal cliff related to homelessness and the perceived inadequacy of federal reform proposals.
Notable Quotes (8)
Under this ICE occupation, each part of our city is gripped in the daily hardship faced by people in our neighborhoods. We must be able to show up for them.
We anticipate that businesses may be losing as much as 10 to 20 million in revenue a week as this has been going on.
This fiscal cliff I think last legislative session it was like 13 million and on heading home Henipin where the mayor is a co-chair I serve served we still have to select um who's going to be on our upcoming boards and commissions. This has been a really pressing issue for us as a county because if we hit this fiscal cliff and if we don't fill these services, we lose critical services that are available um for our communities, especially shelters.
I just have to say these proposals truly set the bar below hell of what should be expected and demanded of regarding immigration affairs in our country right now. I do not believe how you could live through multiple moments related to policing after hundreds of black people lost their lives and saw these same proposals, similar proposals be used as a response and see the lack of effectiveness in saving black lives from law enforcement at the local level and say, 'Let's apply that to this agency under the Trump administration and be like, that's a good idea.'
The impediment to identifying them is they literally come in as mass thugs and harm our communities. And we don't allow that standard for any other law enforcement agency. the reform efforts has really prried itself on we need to identify the officers. Yeah, you can wear a body cam and possibly still shoot people, but at least we have a body cam to trace that saying you should not be going into communities as a law enforcement agency in full disguise and then evade consequences when you brutalize residents.
So our definition is simple. It's a structure. So one person, one structure, that's an encampment.
The first bad news I have to give is that our staff, our homeless response team are seen in the community as snitches... because MPD and because the administration have been ruthless, honestly ruthless at sweeping people out of where they are.
We have changed and just try to be mindful of how we come across in community. So, they're cold, our staff are cold. There will be no neck gators, nothing covering your face. wear plain clothes, wear street clothes, wear something that shows that you are not part of any of those federal actions happening...
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
Comprehensive document outlining the city's priorities for the upcoming state legislative session, including new recommendations.
Federal legislation mentioned as having infused significant one-time funds into various federal agencies, including CBP and ICE.
Federal legislation that provided significant funding to CBP and ICE.
State legislation providing funding for homeless services, which did not receive funding in the previous session.
City ordinance requiring regular reports on encampment closures.
Internal police directive on responding to encampments, influencing the decrease in visible encampments.
Source document
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Other Topics from This Document
2026 Legislative Agenda and Policy Positions (State)
Federal Budget Update and Department of Homeland Security Policies
Fourth Quarter Encampment Closure Report (2025)
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