Saint Paul, MN Immigration Policy: Sanctuary Policy Preemption (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted
- C.F. No. 04-316, May 5, 2004
- Amended
- Ord. No. 18-21, June 13, 2018
- Covers
- Police, fire, city attorney criminal division
- Key exception
- Status is element of crime or 8 U.S.C. 1324(c)
- U-visa certification
- 30 days standard, 7 days expedited
- Discipline range
- Reprimand up to discharge (Sec. 44.04)
- Private lawsuit
- Not created by this chapter (Sec. 44.07)
Summary
Saint Paul's Legislative Code Chapter 44 bars police, fire and city attorney criminal-division staff from questioning, arresting or detaining anyone solely to enforce federal civil immigration law. Adopted by the city council in 2004 (C.F. No. 04-316) and amended in 2018 (Ord. No. 18-21), it also limits when general city employees may ask about immigration status when providing services.
It is the policy of the city to respect the role of homeland security by avoiding pro-active enforcement of civil immigration laws. ... It is the policy of the city that all residents are equally entitled to protection and that all residents should be able to access city services to which they are entitled, without regard to their immigration status under federal law. ... Public safety officials may not undertake any law enforcement action for the sole purpose of detecting the presence of undocumented persons, or to verify immigration status, including but not limited to questioning any person or persons about their immigration status. ... Public safety officials may not question, arrest or detain any person for violations of federal civil immigration laws except when immigration status is an element of the crime or when enforcing 8 U.S.C. 1324(c).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 133 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
F. No. 04-316) and amended June 13, 2018 (Ord. No. 18-21), sets the city's policy that it "does not operate its programs for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws" and works to keep all residents able to access city services "without regard to their immigration status under federal law" (Sec. 01). Under Sec. 02, city employees providing general services may not ask about immigration status except when a law or program specifically requires it as a condition of eligibility, and presenting a foreign photo ID, passport or matricula consular in place of a driver's license does not by itself trigger a status inquiry.
Sec. C. Sec. 1324(c). Any dispatch of city personnel to assist federal immigration enforcement under these exceptions must be documented, including the homeland security agent in charge and the officer who authorized it (Sec. 03(b)). Sec. 06, added by Ord. No. 18-21, requires the police department and city attorney's office to process U-visa and T-visa law-enforcement certification requests within 30 days, or within 7 days for victims already in removal proceedings. Sec. 08 makes the chapter severable if any part is struck down.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 44.04 makes a violation a personnel matter, not a private right of action (Sec. 44.07): an employee who breaks these rules faces discipline ranging from oral or written reprimands to unpaid suspension or discharge under the applicable union contract, civil service rules or department work rules. Complaints against police staff go to the police internal integrity assurance unit and the civilian review commission; complaints against other city employees go to the director of human resources, with written results due within 90 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Saint Paul police ask about my immigration status?
Does Saint Paul cooperate with ICE detainer requests?
Will asking for city services expose my immigration status?
Can a Saint Paul crime victim get a U-visa certification?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Saint Paul
Compare Saint Paul to another location·View the Minnesota immigration policy overview
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