St. Cloud Mayor Frustrated by ICE Silence During Ongoing Operations

(KNSI) — In the wake of Immigration and Customs Enforcement action across St. Cloud, Mayor Jake Anderson expressed frustration Monday over a lack of communication from federal immigration officials following ongoing ICE activity in the city.

City staff say the reports surfaced a couple of weeks ago and have ramped up in the last few days, but they have been largely kept in the dark. “The biggest piece is just the lack of information we’re receiving from our federal officials like ICE. We’re not sure the actions that they’re taking. We find out after the fact,” said Anderson.

The mayor referenced an operation that took place at 33rd Avenue North and 3rd Street North Monday, saying city officials learned about it only after it happened. Anderson said the information vacuum has made it “really hard for us to do our job. It builds a lot of distrust amongst the community.”

The mayor confirmed that the city has received no direct communication from ICE, aside from a brief conversation between the police chief and the operation leader at the scene. The chief provided his business card and requested future coordination. Anderson wants the feds to meet them halfway. “Give us a call. We need to know more. We’re flying in the dark here, and it puts us in a really bad situation. Because again, we have no authority over what they do and what they can’t do.”

Anderson also pushed back against calls for more confrontational responses, noting that aggressive stances by other mayors have sometimes resulted in increased ICE activity. “There’s a lot of folks that are telling me that I should pull a [Minneapolis Mayor Jacob] Frey and tell them to get the F out. I don’t think that helps.”

Frey has maintained strong public opposition to ICE operations.

Anderson acknowledged the situation remains fluid, saying he has revised his official statement multiple times over the past several days as circumstances changed. He pledged the city would continue adapting its strategies to keep the community safe while maintaining dialogue with residents.

Meanwhile, city council members proposed competing responses to the ICE activity.

Council member Hudda Ibrahim asked for the city to pass a resolution affirming St. Cloud as a welcoming community. The council passed such a resolution in 2017. The only remaining elected member from that time is Dave Masters. Council member Scott Brodeen also proposed the city pass a resolution declaring public support for law enforcement and upholding the law.

Both resolutions will be discussed at the January 26th city council meeting.

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