Impacts to federal programs and services

We all rely on federal government programs and services, from air traffic control to national parks to food assistance. During a government shutdown, some of these federal services may slow down or stop.

Minneapolis is home to many federal workers. Many of them are told not to work (furloughed) during the shutdown or are working without pay.

No one knows how long this shutdown will last. The longest one in U.S. history happened in 2018–2019. It lasted 35 days.

What the Separation Ordinance does 

• Protects access to city services 
  Immigration status is not asked about unless required by law. 

• Separates city services from immigration enforcement 
  Police and firefighters focus on safety — not immigration status. 

• Supports victims of crime 
  Immigrant victims of certain crimes or human trafficking can apply for federal protections like U or T visas. 

• Holds employees accountable 
  City staff must follow these rules and face discipline if they don’t. 

What this means for residents and visitors 

• You can safely access city programs and services, no matter your immigration status. 
• Police and firefighters are here to protect you. They do not to enforce federal civil immigration law. 
• If you’re a victim of a crime, you can get help. You may qualify for immigration protections.

Minneapolis’ Separation Ordinance ensures everyone can feel safe using city services, reporting crimes, and being part of our community.

Read the full Separation Ordinance

The Trump administration’s targeting of immigrant communities spreads fear, division and misinformation, and causes harm and trauma for many people in Minneapolis.   

Avoid rumors and misinformation

Since we do not participate in federal civil immigration law enforcement, we do not know and cannot confirm the nature of rumored or reported federal law enforcement actions in our community.

It's important to know that federal officials do conduct operations in our city related to:

• Drugs
• Violent crime
• Human trafficking and more

We work every day to ensure Minneapolis is a welcoming place for all.

Our most important responsibility is to continue to uphold our policies and practices as a Welcoming City. We want to make sure you know your rights and can access support and services quickly when needed.

Police role in community safety

The public should be clear that the Minneapolis Police Department does not participate in the enforcement of federal civil immigration laws.

However, police may be called to a scene if there are safety concerns. In cases like this, MPD will step in, find out what's happening, and calm the situation to keep everyone safe.