Minneapolis City Council Convenes to Debate Resolution Halting Federal ICE Funding Today

Committee of the Whole and Budget Committee Meetings

The Minneapolis City Council is scheduled for a critical series of meetings today, Tuesday, February 17, 2026, as the city continues to navigate the political and economic fallout of federal immigration activities known as Operation Metro Surge. The day’s legislative activity begins at 9:30 a.m. with a meeting of the Committee of the Whole in Room 380 of City Hall, followed immediately by a Budget Committee session at 10:00 a.m.

Today’s sessions are part of a modified council schedule implemented to address the ongoing community needs resulting from the presence of federal agents in the city. Under this temporary structure, items typically handled by various standing committees have been consolidated into the Committee of the Whole to allow the Council to focus on urgent community safety and federal oversight issues.

Resolution on Federal Funding and ICE Enforcement

A primary focus of today’s Committee of the Whole meeting is a contentious resolution proposed by a majority of the council, including Council Members Jason Chavez, Aurin Chowdhury, Robin Wonsley, Aisha Chughtai, Jamal Osman, Soren Stevenson, and Council President Elliott Payne. The resolution seeks a total halt to all federal funding and local enforcement cooperation related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Proponents of the measure argue that the federal "Operation Metro Surge" has constituted a catastrophic overreach that has traumatized local residents and violated constitutional rights. The resolution is designed to legally isolate the city from federal immigration enforcement actions, which council members describe as a necessary step to protect the immigrant and refugee communities in Minneapolis.

Financial Impact and Budgetary Concerns

The 10:00 a.m. Budget Committee meeting will likely address the severe fiscal strain placed on the city by recent events. Mayor Jacob Frey recently estimated that the federal immigration activity has cost the city approximately $203 million in economic losses and administrative expenses. Key discussion points for the committee include:

• Evaluation of a $2 billion city budget currently under significant strain due to police staffing shortages and emergency response needs.
• The potential loss of millions in federal grants for infrastructure and victim services if the city moves forward with non-cooperation resolutions.
• Strategies for a responsible drawdown of the federal presence in coordination with state leadership.

While Mayor Frey has expressed skepticism regarding federal pledges to withdraw agents, today’s meetings represent the city's primary legislative effort to assert local control and address the financial damages incurred over the past two months.