A Statement from Fridley Public Safety Director Ryan George

Published on January 23, 2026

To the Fridley Community:

Like many of you, I am closely monitoring the immigration enforcement activities happening across our region. I know how real the fear and uncertainty is for many of you. People are afraid to go to work, to go to school, to worship and to shop at their neighborhood businesses.

I am writing to provide clarity about what the Fridley Police Department can and cannot do, to reaffirm our commitment to serve everyone with dignity and respect, and to ensure that no one hesitates to call for help when they need it.

As a chief who has spent my entire career with the Fridley Police Department, I know our city is full of great people, and the community support for our department is appreciated more than words can convey.

Department Mission and Clarity on Immigration Enforcement

The Fridley Police Department has spent decades building relationships with everyone in our community. These relationships are built on trust, respect and accountability. They are the foundation of everything we do. Our mission remains to provide impartial and professional public safety services to every member of our community, regardless of immigration status.

Immigration law is the responsibility of the federal government, and the Fridley Police Department does not have the authority to engage in immigration enforcement. We are also unable to interfere with federal authorities who are conducting immigration enforcement in our community. We cannot prohibit federal authorities from using streets or parking lots, and we cannot bar them from businesses that are open to the public.

If you see a Fridley Police Officer onsite during immigration enforcement activity, their role is narrowly focused on maintaining public safety, preserving life and keeping the peace. That may involve assisting with crowd control, deescalating situations, and protecting everyone present, including those exercising their First Amendment rights.

Reassurances to the Community

After insightful discussions with our Citizen Advisory Group and other members of the broader community, I want to provide the following reassurances:

Every member of our community will receive fair and impartial services from our public safety professionals.
Fridley Police Officers will not ask for, nor do they have a way of verifying, a person’s immigration status.
Our officers will not conduct any investigative stops or take any action against an individual based solely upon a person’s race, ethnicity or national origin. (Fridley Police General Order #413: Impartial Policing).
Allegations of civil rights violations involving agencies that operate within our community will be passed on immediately.
Outside of data requests governed by the MN Government Data Practices Act, we do not share records with federal authorities.
Our School Resource Officers will continue to be present within Fridley schools and be a resource for students, staff and families.
We value the relationships we have with our business community and will continue to support them.
Our employees will operate in a professional and constitutional manner, without exception.

Engaging with Fridley Police

People in our community should not hesitate to call 9-1-1 if they need help. Fridley Police Officers will not ask for, nor do they have a way of verifying, a person’s immigration status.
If a suspicious vehicle is attempting to conduct a traffic stop or box in an individual, that individual has the right to call 9-1-1 to verify the legitimacy of that vehicle.
Our officers will be easily identifiable as Fridley Police Officers by their badges, badge numbers, patches and vest placards.
Our officers generally perform patrol operations in fully marked police vehicles.
All unmarked vehicles have Minnesota license plates and are compliant with state law.
All of this information is captured in a flyer we created: What You Need to Know Immigration Enforcement in the City of Fridley(PDF, 2MB)

Reminders to Our Community

Do not interfere with federal law enforcement operations.
Do not block roadways or harass people at businesses.
Support our businesses and the hard-working people who are trying to make ends meet.
Be a good neighbor.
Remember to take care of yourself.

In closing, I want to be clear that the Fridley Police Department exists to keep all our community members safe. Our officers are here to respond to emergencies, prevent crime and support the well-being of you and everyone who lives, works, attends school or worships in Fridley.

Our department relies on the trust and support of the community we serve. In return, we are committed to offering that same level of support back to our community by being present, approachable and responsive when you need us. I encourage anyone who needs help to call 9-1-1 without hesitation. Your safety, and the safety of your family and neighbors, matters.

Ryan George, Director of Fridley Public Safety