Community Questions, Official Answers
On May 29, 2026, during the West Side Week of Action, community members gathered for "ICE Out of Our Streets: A Public Denunciation and Community Action" in Saint Paul's West Side.
This event created a space for impacted families, community observers, local business owners, and residents to share their experiences and concerns about the impact of immigration enforcement activities in our neighborhood. Through testimony and collective reflection, community members called for greater transparency, accountability, and action from elected officials.
The following elected officials were invited to hear directly from the community:
County Commissioner Rafael Ortega
Attorney General Keith Ellison
State Representative María Isa Pérez-Vega
Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her
Saint Paul City Council President Rebecca Noecker
In addition to sharing testimony, community members submitted a series of follow-up questions and requests for clarification. Because time during the event was limited, these questions were formally sent to each elected official after the gathering, with an invitation to respond directly to the community.
Where Were You This Winter?
1. You have the power of the state. We do not. Federal agents have to follow state and local laws unless it's necessary and proper to break it in the course of carrying out federal law. You have the responsibility to ensure they follow it and to enforce it. You did not. My fellow observers put their lives on the line to protect our communities. Where were you? What if anything will you do differently if/when this happens again?
2. Why is this meeting happening now? Where were elected city and state officials 3 to 4 months ago? Where was the city when our neighbors stepped up and took vulnerable individuals to school or work? Where was the city when parents and church members were patrolling street corners at schools? Where was the city during food drives? We were there. Where were you?
3. We are living in extraordinary times that demand more than just status quo. Being the bigger person often means just staying silent. How are YOU actually going to take a stand for our community, our shared humanity?
Saint Paul Police Department:
1. Why was the Saint Paul Police Chief Axel Henry so silent during the ICE surge? 2. How do we have more accountability from law enforcement to not cooperate with ICE, to respond on behalf of our neighbors when they are needed, to get accountability for illegal actions by ICE?
3. There has been increased St. Paul Police activity on the West Side since operation metro surge. How can the community trust that the ICE surge did not lay the groundwork for police action?
4. How do we regain the trust of our St. Paul police when they did not respond to ICE calls?
Local Government Power:
1. What is something the government in MN can do for families who were under excessive force use by ICE or other abuses by them?
2. What authority does the state have to regulate (or ban) the tactics used by federal agents? If the answer is little or none, are there any creative ways to indirectly affect these tactics?
Detention:
1. How many Minnesotans are currently in detention facilities domestically and abroad?
Voter Safety:
1. How are we protecting our people as they go out to vote this fall?
2. How can we prepare for the midterm elections? In our community? At the polls in our neighborhoods?
Other:
1. What kind of interventions can the city/county/state provide to families to address their mental health, especially with no insurance?
2. Last year the Boosters requested additional money for security at the cinco de mayo and they were denied funding (for Saint Paul police). Will there be allocated funds from the city of Saint Paul for SPPD security this year?
3. Are the prosecutions for the Alex Pretti and Renee Good murders moving forward at the state level?
This page serves as a public record of those responses.
As we move forward, we remain committed to a process rooted in transparency, accountability, and community action. We believe that meaningful relationships between residents and public leaders require ongoing dialogue, honest reflection, and a shared commitment to building a safer and more just community for everyone.
Below you will find the responses we have received and updates as additional information becomes available.