Moorhead City Council Debates Restricting ICE Access to Public Spaces

The council voted to table the discussion, with the mayor casting the tie-breaking vote.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Moorhead City Council discussed a proposal to limit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to public property for enforcement activities. While some council members advocated for the restrictions, others questioned the legality and appropriateness of such measures, arguing that law enforcement should be left to the experts. The council ultimately voted 4-4 to table the discussion, with the mayor casting the tie-breaking vote.

Why it matters

This debate highlights the ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement and the role of local governments in addressing federal immigration policies. The council's decision to table the discussion suggests there are differing views within the community on how to balance public safety, civil liberties, and the authority of federal agencies.

The details

Three Moorhead City Council members - Deb White, Nicole Mattson, and Emily Moore - brought forward a proposal to restrict ICE's access to public property for enforcement activities. They argued the city should explore ways to limit ICE's presence and staging areas on public land. However, other council members, such as Sebastian McDougall and Ryan Nelson, questioned the legality and appropriateness of such measures, stating that law enforcement should be left to the experts.

  • The Moorhead City Council discussed the proposal during their meeting on February 11, 2026.

The players

Deb White

A Moorhead City Council member who advocated for restricting ICE access to public property.

Nicole Mattson

A Moorhead City Council member who advocated for restricting ICE access to public property.

Emily Moore

A Moorhead City Council member who advocated for restricting ICE access to public property.

Sebastian McDougall

A Moorhead City Council member who questioned the legality of limiting ICE enforcement on public property.

Ryan Nelson

A Moorhead City Council member who argued that law enforcement should be left to the experts.

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What they’re saying

“I know there are a lot of challenges and difficulties in what we can't do, but (we're) really trying to think of some of the things that we can do.”

— Deb White, Moorhead City Council member (am1100theflag.com)

“Do we really have the authority to do that, and we're looking at public spaces. How do we say who can and cannot go to a public space?”

— Sebastian McDougall, Moorhead City Council member (am1100theflag.com)

“Let's leave the law enforcement arena to the law enforcement experts.”

— Ryan Nelson, Moorhead City Council member (am1100theflag.com)

What’s next

The Moorhead City Council will likely revisit this issue in a future work session to further discuss the legal and practical considerations around restricting ICE access to public property.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the complex and often contentious nature of local government involvement in federal immigration enforcement policies. The Moorhead City Council's decision to table the discussion suggests there are differing views within the community on how to balance public safety, civil liberties, and the authority of federal agencies.