Aid is coming for those severely affected by Operation Metro Surge in MInneapolis.
Despite reports federal immigration agents have mostly left Minnesota, Council Member Robin Wonsley contradicts those claims.
"We are not seeing any differences in activity by ICE," Wonsley claimed.
Regardless, Wonsley and other Minneapolis City Council members, mainly the Democratic Socialists on the council, have passed several proposals to help residents recover.
Those include $1 million in rental assistance, $500,000 for immigration legal services, local and state policy initiatives to prevent evictions, and $7 million in relief for small business recovery.
"Small business was approved by the city council today," said counilmember Jason Chavez. "It's still awaiting Mayor Frey's signature, so as the media, it would be great for you to ask for his opinion on that."
The Mayor has five business days to either sign, approve or veto.
Council honors Fletcher Merkel
An emotional start to Thursday's Minneapolis City Council meeting as the family of Fletcher Merkel was presented with a resolution honoring the 8-year old's life.
Merkel was one of two students killed in the August mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis.
His family was flanked by supporters and community members, as well as Annunciation school leaders, and Fletcher's first grade teacher Sara Slack.
"I will forever miss him and I'm heartbroken that we don't get to see him grow," Slack said. "But through his light, and his love, and every gift that he gave to us, we get to grow stronger. And he will be forever missed and cherished, and he has an imprint in my heart always, as does your family."
The ceremony ended with the group singing a verse of the song, "This Little Light of Mine."
Council decides not to punish hotels that housed ICE agents
Minneapolis city council members voted 8 to 5 Thursday morning to approve liquor license renewals for two downtown hotels that have housed ICE agents.
This comes after several council members originally supported pulling their licenses. A vote earlier this week went 11-2 for exploring options to pull the license for the Canopy by Hilton and the Depot Renaissance Hotel.
"You know, to feel comfortable, uncomfortable to have ICE agency in our city, ICE who have murdered our neighbors, who had targeted, certain communities, who had cost our city millions and millions of dollars, but we have to show that we're doing the right thing," Councilmember Jamal Osman said. "We are the ones who actually follow the laws that we set."
There had been reports of police calls and incident reports at both hotels. Activists targeted both following two shootings in January by federal agents that killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Instead on Thursday, the council was told they have no legal basis to deny the licenses for these reasons. Still, five members voted to pull their license anyway.
"We have to be the bigger person," Osman added. "We also have to appreciate the businesses in our community. They're the one who really makes our city better. We're functioning today because of the small businesses and the larger businesses we have in this area, and we can't punish them based on other people's actions."