Joint Statement of the Fridley City Council

Published on March 02, 2026

Since heightened federal immigration enforcement has taken place in Minnesota, our community has faced unprecedented disruption. As residents ourselves, we are aware of the impact this has had in our community and the concerns it has created.

As local elected officials, we're accustomed to coordinating resources and assistance for our residents. We regularly field questions about snow removal, street projects and property taxes, and we connect our constituents with City staff and other agencies for assistance. During Operation Metro Surge, federal enforcement actions moved forward without local authority or input, even as we voiced the real impact on our families, businesses and neighbors.

We recognize that federal immigration enforcement decisions are made outside of city government. In response, we focused on what we could do. This included offering reassurance about our public safety services, providing clarity about the City’s role and communicating the concerns we heard from residents to state and federal officials. Residents can find these resources at FridleyMN.gov/ImmigrationResources.

What the Council Can Do

It can be unclear and frustrating to navigate the different levels of government. Many residents understandably look to their local elected officials for immediate action. We want to provide clarity about what authority we have.

As Councilmembers, we can determine how Fridley’s city government operates and how we serve our community at the local level. Immigration enforcement brings challenges beyond the authority of our city, and we will continue to advocate for state and federal leaders to pursue practical, lasting solutions so communities like ours do not experience this level of disruption again. When we say we will communicate your concerns to the appropriate authorities, it is because those decisions rest with state and federal leaders. While we cannot directly change those policies ourselves, we can elevate your voices and advocate on your behalf to the officials who have the power to act.

The aggressive manner of enforcement that characterized Operation Metro Surge is fundamentally in opposition to how Fridley approaches public safety. Our officers build relationships and trust by operating in a professional manner to protect everyone in our community equally. That approach has served our City well for decades, and it will continue.

Moving Forward

This moment has tested our community in ways that are different from a typical emergency. The impacts are personal, emotional and long-lasting. When disruption of this nature is rooted in fear and uncertainty, the path forward requires listening, relationship-building and steady leadership.

We may not have every answer today, but we are committed to working together to strengthen our community for whatever comes next. So, we want to help facilitate conversations to better understand the ongoing needs of our community. We are working on the details for this effort and hope to share it very soon.

Our Commitment

To every Fridley resident: you can be assured that your City leaders and law enforcement will uphold the oaths they took to protect your constitutional rights so that you may live safely in our community.

We can't change what happened. We can't fix federal policy. But we can re-commit to doing everything in our power to make Fridley a place where everyone can live without fear, where trust is restored, and where we face whatever comes next, together.

If you need help, call 911. If you need city services, call City Hall at 763-571-3450. If you want to talk to us, reach out. We're listening.

Respectfully, 

Dave Ostwald, Mayor
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Patrick Vescio, Councilmember-at-Large
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Luke Cardona, Councilmember Ward 1
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Ryan Evanson, Councilmember Ward 2
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Ann Bolkcom, Councilmember Ward 3
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