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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – JANUARY 31, 2026 14 responsibility is public safety and that’s more than just responding to calls; but ensuring safety especially in the face of an aggressive bad actor. He and Councilmember Monson met with the Sheriff’s office yesterday and he was very heartened by what he heard at the meeting. It was a really good meeting and he heard a lot of things he was hoping to hear. The sheriff, along with the County Attorney had basically done a full 180 on their position on how they will approach ICE. There will still be limitations on how they can respond to calls that involve ICE. One of the biggest things we’ve seen is the federal government preventing local agencies from investigating those incidents. What he was told by the undersheriff, who manages Arden Hills’ contract, is if there is a felony, a serious crime, that is going to involve investigation and it is believed that local authorities will be pushed out, RCSO will swarm the situation, take control and get as much information as they can. This is a County Sheriff up against the federal government. It’s a change from what we’ve heard and seen in the past month. There was discussion about coding calls so we can learn how many of those calls are coming in and assess what’s happening in Arden Hills a lot better. He thanked everyone for speaking out today. Councilmember Holden said she doesn’t think there is anyone on the Council or in the city that isn’t sickened by what is happening in Minnesota. She said during the last conversation she used the word gestapo. She doesn’t know if people are on leave because of the shootings or if they just moved to a different city. There’s no transparency, at all, coming from the federal government. It puts a bind on our public safety officers. No one in the Sheriff’s department agrees with what is going on. No one believes car windows should be smashed out or that people should be dragged out of cars. It is the same for the National Guard officers. They are out there trying to do their job. She is upset when she’s watching the news and sees protesters go after those guys. This should be taken out on ICE. Ramsey County Sheriff and our National Guard guys are on our side. They don’t believe in any of this. They have rules to follow. They want ICE to follow the rules. She asked that everyone remain kind to our local law enforcement officers and the National Guard. We don’t want anyone turning on them. This is the federal government and ICE, that is where we need to take our direction to. We have talked about vulnerable areas of our City. She has walked the Arden Manor Trailer Park many times in the cold weather. RCSO has several officers who speak Spanish. They have been going door to door and letting people know what’s going on and telling them what their rights are. They know more about what’s going on and what their resources are than she could even begin to know. There is a rapid response app for Arden Hills. You can get that app and be notified if ICE is coming into our community and where they’re at. Within a minute you can have your whistles ready, get there and protect the businesses and residents, as long as everyone follows the rules. That is an important thing that we have done right. Minnesotans have followed the rules so we don’t look like we’re becoming ICE people. She represents 10,000 people in this city. Unfortunately, there are people who agree with what ICE is doing but they don’t agree with how they are accomplishing it. One of the things that worries her the most is letting kids go remote. We’ve talked to the school district. There is nothing that is going to take away our fear. She knows ICE has driven down her street. She knows they go through the trailer park. Arden Manor is very well aware. The message goes out to everyone in the area so they know it’s happening. The townhouse association hasn’t done as much. There aren’t as many vulnerable community members there. ICE has been very limited on who they’re going after focusing on Hispanics, Latin Americans and next will be Somalians. She said if people report incidents to the City, she asked if that is public information. She would like an answer to that question. We need to protect the identities of the residents who are trying to help. She said food shortages aren’t a huge issue here, thanks to Ralph Reeder and delivering the food. Where we need help is for people who aren’t working. She has donated to siding companies and roofing companies. Those people haven’t worked since December. They don’t have any money.