St. Cloud City Council Votes 6-1 to Reaffirm Welcoming Community Commitment

(KNSI) — The St. Cloud City Council voted 6-1 Monday evening to reaffirm its commitment to being a welcoming community, while a resolution on law enforcement was postponed until March.

The resolutions came as Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations have intensified across St. Cloud and Minnesota in recent weeks. A resolution by Council Member Hudda Ibrahim reaffirms the city’s 2017 commitment to welcoming all residents regardless of immigration status, ethnicity, or country of origin.

The measure cites the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and St. Cloud’s Community Policing Agreement. “I’m excited and elated by the outcome of the resolution tonight that shows that all of us are actually working together,” Ibrahim said following the vote. “And we wanted to make St. Cloud a better place for all of us.” Ibrahim added, “St. Cloud is a welcoming community. St. Cloud is a thriving community. St. Cloud is a growing city. And we need to make sure that we keep those values, our values and our principles.”

Ibrahim emphasized the importance of St. Cloud’s diversity for economic development.

Council Member Mark Johnson made a motion to add language specifying St. Cloud welcomes all law-abiding citizens and residents who are here legally, but it failed to garner enough support.
Council Member Scott Brodeen attempted to amend the resolution to say the city is welcoming for those who are here legally, but that also failed. Brodeen cast the only no vote on the resolution.

Meanwhile, Brodeen asked to have his resolution affirming support for law enforcement and the rule of law postponed, citing community misunderstanding about his intent. “The intention initially was I don’t want chaos like in Minneapolis, which stems from leadership saying go resist, go stand against, don’t comply,” Brodeen said. “I really was trying to do what was best for the city.”

Brodeen said he received emails from community members who misunderstood his resolution’s intent, some thinking it was a blanket ICE support statement.

Brodeen’s postponed resolution emphasizes support for law enforcement within legal boundaries and states it does not endorse, excuse, or justify conduct that exceeds constitutional, statutory, or jurisdictional limits.

The March 23rd meeting will determine whether the council passes Brodeen’s resolution, rejects it, or seeks a compromise approach.

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