The Minneapolis City Council held a public hearing Wednesday on a proposed ordinance that would limit how landlords screen tenants, including banning questions about immigration status, but did not take a vote.
The proposal would amend the city’s housing maintenance code to prohibit landlords from asking about a renter’s immigration status and add protections against retaliation based on a tenant’s real or perceived status. It would also bar landlords from denying applicants solely for using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
“This ordinance is really important,” said council member Jason Chavez. “Because since the height of the Operation Metro Surge, many of our neighbors have been impacted, including renters whose immigration status has or perceived immigration status has been used to threaten and retaliate against renters who are struggling to pay rent.”…