Workday Minnesota, MN
April 29 2004
St. Paul passes ‘INS separation’ ordinance
By Barb Kucera, Workday Minnesota editor – April 28, 2004
ST. PAUL – Saying that St. Paul values all people, the City Council
Wednesday night unanimously approved an ordinance that keeps
responsibility for enforcing immigration law with federal
authorities.
The proposal limits situations in which police and other city workers
can be required to enforce federal immigration laws. A similar
measure was passed last year in Minneapolis and has been approved in
several communities around the country.
`It’s a historic moment for St. Paul,’ Council Member Jay Benanav
said after the 7-0 vote. `This ordinance really recognizes the
diversity and the richness that all immigrant groups have brought to
St. Paul and continue to bring to St. Paul.’
Council Member Pat Harris, author of the ordinance, noted his
Irish-Armenian-German heritage and the fact that his ancestors were
victims of the genocide in Armenia in the early 20th century.
`I’m very proud to do something like this today,’ he said.
St. Paul City Council members and staff listen to testimony on the
immigration ordinance.
Before the vote, several people testified in support of the
ordinance, often referred to as a `city/INS separation ordinance.’
They said the measure was needed, especially in light of intimidation
of immigrants since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the
passage of the Patriot Act, which gives federal authorities vast
powers to arrest and detain people.
Representatives of immigrant Latino, Asian and African communities
said many people are afraid to deal with public workers, especially
police, for fear their legal status will be questioned.
Ilean Her, executive director of the Council on Asian-Pacific
Minnesotans, cited the case of a young Filipino woman, brought to the
Twin Cities as a `mail-order bride.’ Although she became a victim of
domestic violence, `her fear kept her from seeking help,’ Her said.
Through the ordinance, `the city of St. Paul will say there are
certain rights we will protect . . . a right to safety and medical
help when you need it,’ she said.
Hassan Muhammed, vice president of the Minnesota chapter of the
Moslem-American Society and president of the Somali Families and
Youth Association of Minnesota, said many East Africans have a
well-founded fear of law enforcement. In their home countries, `the
police is the military, is the immigration officer,’ he said.
`We can remove that fear through this ordinance,’ he said.
A number of unions supported the proposal, saying it allows police,
firefighters, public health nurses, housing inspectors, librarians
and other city employees to do their jobs and provide city services
without being forced to unnecessarily investigate a resident’s
immigration status.
Shar Knutson, president of the St. Paul Trades & Labor Assembly,
AFL-CIO; and Amy Bodnar, a representative of the Service Employees
International Union, both testified in favor of the ordinance.
`Over 30 citizen groups have signed onto this,’ Bodnar noted.
None of the speakers at the public hearing opposed the measure. After
the vote, the ordinance was laid over for final passage at the City
Council meeting on Wednesday, May 5.