An independent audit has revealed significant communication failures surrounding a federal raid in Minneapolis on June 3, 2023, which caused widespread chaos in the community. Masked federal agents, accompanied by armored vehicles, descended on a neighborhood, resulting in immediate protests and misunderstandings regarding the nature of the operation. While law enforcement officials indicated the raid targeted drug trafficking and money laundering, many in the community believed it was linked to immigration enforcement.
The 18-page audit was commissioned in response to community concerns about the Minneapolis Police Department’s involvement and the lack of notification to city leaders prior to the raid. During a City Council review, Councilmember Jason Chavez, who was present at the scene, stated, “ICE was in the community,” confirming that officers from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency were indeed involved. Although the report validated Chavez’s assertion, it clarified that the operation had no immigration-related objectives.
The audit highlighted that members of the City Council were informed of the raid approximately four hours after Police Chief Brian O’Hara and three hours after Mayor Jacob Frey. The local police presence during the raid was primarily to escort federal agents out of the area, as they are prohibited from assisting with immigration enforcement due to the city’s 2003 separation ordinance.
In response to the audit findings, Mayor Frey issued a statement affirming that the city acted within legal bounds, stating, “The audit confirms that the City did not violate its Separation Ordinance and acted with integrity, keeping public safety front and center.” He emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in maintaining public trust.
Despite the mayor’s reassurances, Councilmember Chavez expressed concern regarding the effectiveness of the separation ordinance. “The ordinance did not protect us. The ordinance is not strong enough,” he remarked, noting that it allows certain collaboration with ICE.
One central recommendation from the audit is the need to review and strengthen the separation ordinance, which has not been updated since its adoption. Additionally, the audit urged improvements in communication across various government branches to ensure that city officials and the public are promptly informed of such operations in the future.
City Auditor Robert Timmerman advocated for the implementation of the audit’s recommendations. “I encourage you to take these findings and these recommendations that come from this report and this presentation to collaboratively improve processes to help prevent situations like this in the future,” he said.
The audit underscores the necessity for local officials to be informed more swiftly about federal actions that impact their communities. It aims to enhance not only communication but also the overall relationship between federal and local law enforcement agencies, providing a clearer framework for future operations.
