Grand Forks Leaders Clarify Police Role on Immigration

City facilitator emphasizes local police are not involved in federal immigration enforcement

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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In response to increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in neighboring Minnesota, a Grand Forks community integration facilitator wants to assure the immigrant community that local police are not involved in federal immigration enforcement. The Grand Forks Police Chief reiterated that the department will not actively investigate people based on immigration status, but may refer individuals to other agencies if encountered during a criminal investigation.

Why it matters

The news from Minnesota has led some immigrants in Grand Forks to be concerned for their safety, so local leaders want to build trust between the immigrant community and the police department. Clarifying the limited role of local police in immigration enforcement is important to prevent the immigrant community from becoming fearful of interacting with law enforcement.

The details

Grand Forks community integration facilitator Hamzat Amoussa Koriko said the local police department is focused on supporting refugee integration, not arresting immigrants. Police Chief Jason Freedman stated the department will not actively investigate people based on immigration status, but may refer individuals to other agencies if encountered during a criminal investigation. The police will not directly aid ICE, but may provide security support if requested by federal partners.

  • In recent weeks, increased ICE activity in Minnesota has resulted in hundreds of detentions, two shooting deaths, and heightened political tensions.
  • Last week, U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan ordered a federal drawdown of 700 ICE agents from Minnesota.

The players

Hamzat Amoussa Koriko

Grand Forks community integration facilitator who wants to assure the immigrant community that local police are not involved in federal immigration enforcement.

Jason Freedman

Grand Forks Police Chief who reiterated that the department will not actively investigate people based on immigration status.

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What they’re saying

“We want the immigrant community to know that our police department is here to support refugee integration in the community. They're not here to arrest them.”

— Hamzat Amoussa Koriko, Grand Forks community integration facilitator (grandforksherald.com)

“We're not going down to the gas station and proactively asking people for their status, that is absolutely not something we do, nor will we do.”

— Jason Freedman, Grand Forks Police Chief (grandforksherald.com)

The takeaway

This clarification from Grand Forks leaders aims to build trust between the immigrant community and local law enforcement, assuring immigrants that the police department is focused on supporting integration, not immigration enforcement.