Met Council on Immigration Enforcement

The Metropolitan Council's vision is a prosperous, equitable, and resilient region with abundant opportunities for all to live, work, play, and thrive. We are committed to achieving this vision through regional partnerships and with community. As we continue to do the good work of providing public transportation, clean water, affordable housing, economic development and other essential services, we have to acknowledge how the surge of federal immigration enforcement in our region is impacting the way residents access and experience these services.

The method in which immigration enforcement is being conducted has created confusion, anxiety, and fear for many people – including members of our workforce, their families, neighborhoods and communities. We mourn the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents in Minneapolis and stand in solidarity with our region as we grapple with the ripple effects of ongoing grief compounded by heightened enforcement activities. 

The Metropolitan Council denounces unconstitutional, unlawful, violent, and traumatizing tactics used in federal immigration enforcement. Such actions do not reflect the mission and values of this organization, or the commitments we made in Imagine 2050. The Metropolitan Council was built on the principle that we serve all residents of this region—because everyone deserves access to basic necessities with dignity, welcome and safety.

We will continue to deliver essential services with the same care and professionalism our community expects. We are also committed to maintaining a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment across all areas of the Metropolitan Council's work, for everyone who works here and everyone who calls this region home.

See below for our safety tools for riders, Metro Transit Police Department policy, and reporting incidents related to federal law enforcement. Contact us at [email protected] or 651-602-1500 if you have other questions or concerns about Met Council services.
 

Safety Tools for Transit Riders

  • Find route schedules, a trip planning tool and other helpful information on our website at metrotransit.org.  
  • To stay informed of any service changes or updates, sign up for our Rider Alerts at Metrotransit.org  
  • To report suspicious or unwanted behaviors you observe on a bus, on a train, or at a transit stop or station, text us any time at 612-900-0411 to use our Text For Safety service. Staff is available to respond and coordinate the appropriate response 24/7.  
  • In an emergency, such as a situation that is life-threatening or causing severe bodily injury, call or text 911 right away. Emergency call buttons located at rail and bus rapid transit stations and on light rail vehicles can also be used to reach emergency dispatchers. 
  • Non-emergency issues like broken glass or graffiti should be reported to Customer Relations. Call 612-373-3333, email [email protected], or complete this online form: https://www.metrotransit.org/contact-us-customer-experience 

Metro Transit Police Department Policy 

Metro Transit Police Department’s (MTPD) Policy 428 addresses how MTPD addresses immigration issues and interacts with law enforcement to ensure equal enforcement of the law and equal service to all persons regardless of their immigration status. Under the policy, MTPD does not participate in ICE or other immigration related sweeps or concentrated efforts to detain suspected undocumented persons. MTPD does not undertake any law enforcement action for the sole purpose of verifying immigration status.  

Minnesota residents can distinguish between federal immigration enforcement officers and local public safety officers through several key indicators.  

  • Local officers wear uniforms displaying their specific department (such as MTPD, Minneapolis Police, Hennepin County Sheriff, or Minnesota State Patrol). 
  • Minnesota law limits local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement—most local police generally cannot detain individuals solely on immigration status or honor detainer requests without a judicial warrant.  

Metro Transit Police Officers will always identify themselves and show credentials upon request.  

Reporting Incidents Related to Federal Law Enforcement  

The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office has created a Federal Action Reporting Form that residents can use to report incidents or effects related to or caused by recent federal actions in Minnesota whether at a transit location or elsewhere. 

Immigration Related Resources  

The Metropolitan Council cannot provide legal advice to residents but below are resources that may be helpful to you.