Minnesota’s political divide prompts mayoral, business, and law enforcement action

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Rochester Mayor Kim Norton will join hundreds of mayors from across the nation in Washington, D.C. this week for the United States Conference of Mayors 94th winter meeting to sit down with federal congressional delegates about local issues. Meanwhile, Minnesota business leaders and a law enforcement labor union also call for solutions from state, federal, and local lawmakers.

The group plans to bring unified messages of de-escalation, immigration reform and an end to ICE operations in Minnesota to Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

Norton said about 250 mayors usually attend the meeting, with typically six to eight from Minnesota participating.

“People are concerned right now in particular about what’s happening. The effect on business is really one of my main concerns and how it’s affecting the people,” Norton said.

Norton said recent ICE activity is putting pressure on local businesses and could pose a broader threat to Rochester’s economy and Mayo Clinic.

“Certainly our largest employer in the city, in the state uses visas, legal visas for people to come. And those are being pulled now from many, many, many countries,” she said.

Business and law enforcement support

The mayors’ efforts align with similar calls from Minnesota business and law enforcement leaders. This weekend, Law Enforcement Labor Services, a union representing more than 8,000 Minnesota law enforcement and public safety professionals, released a letter calling for solutions. In addition, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce also released a statement on behalf of more than 60 CEOs from Minnesota-based companies calling for de-escalation in Minnesota.

“Immigration reform has failed over numerous presidential terms. Republicans and Democrats have not dealt with immigration reform,” Norton said.

Norton said new policies could create order and peace by replacing what she called threatening immigration enforcement.

“It’s in a professional way, it’s not with a gun, it’s not with armor. It’s sitting down and saying, ‘Could you please give me your documentation?’” Norton said. “There are ways to do things that are calm and not disruptive to the community.”

Minnesota-based companies in the viewing area that signed the letter with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce include Red Wing Shoes, Hormel, Faribault Mill and Mayo Clinic.

State-level response

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Governor Tim Walz on Sunday, urging him to repeal state laws that limit cooperation between detention facilities and ICE. Bondi said those policies push enforcement into public spaces.

However, Norton said ICE has not come to detention facilities to collect individuals after they serve their time, despite being able to do so in what she believes are two jurisdictions.

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