A coalition of 20 Minnesota mayors making an ask today at the Minnesota state capitol.
They're calling on state lawmakers to approve municipal aid to help rebuild local economies as Operation Metro Surge, the federal government's immigration crackdown in the state, winds down.
"We're not quite sure the total scope of what all those costs are because they haven't left yet," Hopkins mayor Patrick Hanlon explained.
The coalition didn't unveil a specific dollar amount of mutual aid they feel is necessary.
"It's going to look different in every city and how we work with our partners, and we know the costs are immense working with our local nonprofits," Hanlon adds. "They are over capacity in meeting all the needs."
Hanlon says these communities are vital part of the state's economic engine.
"Because local operations have not yet concluded here, we don't know the final price tag on what that true cost is," Hanlon said. "We just know that it's immense. We won't be asking for handouts. We are asking for fairness, for justice, and resources to fix a crisis we didn't create in order for us to eventually thrive again."
Hanlon says many businesses are seeing more than 50% of their workforce not show up, and he's concerned about the droves of construction workers leaving the state and leaving projects unfinished.
Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollis Winston says his city has allocated over $500,000 to help impacted businesses already.
"But also families that are truly in need," Winston adds. "Now, we've had to tap into our reserves to do that, but going beyond our reserves again is unsustainable. And listen, we're just one city looking to prevent deep, irreversible economic and civic harm."
The coalition says now is the time to rebuild trust in local government, and to reaffirm local control in the face of federal overreach.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and some DFL lawmakers have already proposed a financial relief package for the state, but those details will need to be worked out with Republicans who have shown opposition to the idea up until now.
GOP House Speaker Lisa Demuth has already taken a stance against a "bailout" for local business, saying that proposal comes as the state faces a deficit.
"You watched our state leaders, whether it's a mayor or a governor or other elected officials, telling people to boycott businesses on a Friday in January," Demuth said. "Those are choices people make. So to look at a state level bailout for a choice that some businesses made, or a choice that leaders made makes it very difficult."