FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2025
CONTACT
Jennifer “JLor” Lor
(651) 417-9454
SAINT PAUL – Today, Mayor Melvin Carter stood with the City Attorney’s Office, the Saint Paul City Council, public safety leaders, and community members to formally announce signing on to a lawsuit filed by the City of San Francisco challenging the legality of a recent executive order.
The executive order illegally withholds federal funds to force local law enforcement jurisdictions to act as federal immigration agents. The order also gives federal officials the ability to impose civil or criminal actions against those jurisdictions.
“We are taking action to ensure the continuity of local services that receive federal funding, but more importantly to preserve and protect the basic covenant that our residents and businesses who contribute millions in hard earned tax dollars to our federal tax base have a right to benefit from the federal funding that they provide,” said Mayor Carter. “We do not accept the proposal of this executive order unlawfully holding hostage federal funds as ransom against an unlawful political demand.”
The City of Saint Paul relies on about $260 million in receivable federal funding to support critical investments in emergency response, infrastructure, housing, and public services—about $192.2 million of which is currently under contract. Of those dollars already under contract, roughly $139.4 million accounts for one-time capital investment projects and the remaining $52.7 million supports ongoing programs and department operations.
Another $66.8 million is in the post-award phase of establishing workplans and executing contracts. The city has also applied for an additional $66.1 million in federal grants.
“City services are essential to our residents’ daily lives and collective well-being,” said Council President Rebecca Noecker. “Any federal action such as withholding or conditioning federal funds directly threatens the safety, quality of life, and stability of our city.”
Some of the major initial impacts include:
A combined $7.3 million in nearly completed construction for Como Park Zoo & Conservatory geothermal upgrades and the North End Community Center
Interruption in the 10-year plan to replace 26,000 lead service lines
Loss of 28,400 high school intern hours with the city’s year-round Right Track program
Delay of approximately 1,800 trees scheduled to be planted, and 1,100 stumps planned for removal over five years
$3 million in redevelopment grants for new affordable housing and business and economic development
Cuts to emergency response and public safety training programs and personnel
Cuts to supports for unsheltered work
“We know the loss of federal funding [that] negatively impacts our ability to build more affordable housing, improve our highways and parks, protect our natural resources like water, and ensure safety of the public disproportionately impacts marginalized communities like ours most,” said Ward 6 Councilmember Nelsie Yang.
In 2004, the city adopted a separation ordinance that ensures all residents are granted full access to city services regardless of immigration status. The ordinance also states that no city employee is responsible, nor are they authorized, to enforce federal immigration policies.
“Our legal challenge is not about opposing lawful immigration enforcement,” said City Attorney Lyndsey Olson. “The federal government, under the current executive orders and internal directives, is attempting to coerce state and local governments into direct enforcement of federal immigration law. The federal government may not compel state and local governments to enact or administer federal regulatory programs.”
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