After ICE surge causes hardship for some renters, advocates call for anti-eviction measures
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Local advocacy groups called Wednesday for state lawmakers to approve an eviction moratorium and relief payments for people unable to work during the federal immigration operation in Minnesota.
Faith leaders and other advocates said they crowdsourced hundreds of thousands of dollars to support thousands of people in hiding, but that's not sustainable in the long term. Mutual aid groups have helped people pay rent, get groceries and other needed supplies while workers remain in their homes out of fear of being detained by federal immigrations and customs officers.
They're urging Gov. Tim Walz to impose a moratorium on evictions until proposed state aid payments can be sent out to landlords. Rabbi Joey Glick works at Shir Tikvah Synagogue and said his congregation fundraised $500,000 to support more than 200 people in his community.
"We need to continue raising funds, pass relief legislation. My tiny synagogue and the dozens of other mutual aid funds, the hundreds of GoFundMe drives, it is not enough,” Glick said. “The cracks are too wide to be held together solely by the holy super glue of community. We need our elected officials to step up."
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Aides to Walz have said a moratorium would be legally shaky. Walz put one in effect during the COVID-19 pandemic under emergency powers. Any move this time could spark lawsuits or other moves to block an order.
A statement Wednesday from Walz’s office said, “The governor is open to exploring all avenues to helping people, but he does not currently have the legal authority to enact an eviction moratorium.”
The aid proposals also face a steep climb in the narrowly divided Legislature. As a starting point for the recovery debate, Walz has proposed $10 million for businesses negatively impacted by the federal surge in enforcement in Minnesota.
Jennifer Arnold, director with Inquilinos Unidos Por Justicia or Renters United for Justice, said even if the moratorium isn’t possible, there are policies under consideration that could make a difference.
Two are set to come up for consideration in committee later Wednesday, one that would earmark $50 million for rental assistance for people affected by the surge operation and another extending the period required to provide notice before someone faces eviction.
“We know that our goal is no evictions under occupation. And so there are other ways to get to that goal,” Arnold said. “Both of those steps could go a long way in meeting the need.”
Arnold said they are hoping for swift action to get relief money out to people before March rent comes due.
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