After-Action Report on June 3 Raid
At its August 5 meeting, the City Council reviewed a report from the City Auditor on the June 3 immigration raid at Lake and Bloomington. The report, requested by the council, found that MPD followed the city's separation-of-powers agreement. It also noted a breakdown in communication and recommended the agreement—originally written before the creation of ICE—be updated to reflect current realities.
Several council members, including Chavez, Cashman, Chowdhury, and Wonsley, expressed frustration with the findings. Council Member Vetaw was alone in emphasizing a basic legal fact: cities cannot prevent federal agents from entering their jurisdiction.
Much of the meeting was devoted to condemning federal immigration policy and highlighting its impact on families—a message that, while heartfelt, did little to clarify the city's role or responsibilities during such events.
The discussion raised important questions about the council’s capacity to respond effectively in crisis situations. Emotional appeals, internal disputes, and a pattern of sharing unverified information online continue to undermine public confidence.
We agree with the auditor's recommendation to revisit and modernize the existing agreement. Better communication protocols will be essential in responding to future raids. Clear, timely messaging would help reduce confusion and prevent the spread of rumors, especially those fueled by social media.
Podcast: Reader Feedback on Recent Posts
In today’s podcast, we also respond to feedback on our recent newsletters. The conversation has been active, and we welcome it. We’ll continue to highlight areas where public dollars deserve more scrutiny and where political orthodoxy is getting in the way of better governance. Feedback on the below newsletters is covered.
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