MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the state of Minnesota, its two largest cities, and a county over sanctuary policies that allegedly interfere with the federal government's ability to enforce immigration laws.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday, targets the state government, as well as Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Hennepin County, asserting that their policies lead to the release of dangerous offenders who should be deported.
“Minnesota officials are endangering the safety of their citizens by enabling illegal aliens to avoid legal processes,” Attorney General Pam Bondi stated.
This lawsuit makes Minnesota the latest in a line of jurisdictions targeted by the Trump administration, which has previously taken action against Colorado, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and various cities including Boston and Chicago.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison counters that the state is not obstructing federal partnerships with local law enforcement aimed at prosecuting dangerous individuals.
“This baseless lawsuit is just more political retaliation against Minnesota, and we will respond in court,” Ellison added.
The lawsuit highlights an advisory opinion issued by Ellison, suggesting that neither state nor federal law permits local authorities to detain individuals based on immigration detainers when they would otherwise be released. Many counties have cited this opinion to justify their policies, which restrict cooperation with immigration enforcement.
The complaint describes the policies in Hennepin County, which prevents law enforcement from holding individuals on administrative immigration detainers alone. Moreover, driver’s license data cannot be shared for immigration enforcement purposes, the lawsuit states.
Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis indicated the city’s commitment to welcoming immigrants and refugees, asserting they would not acquiesce to the lawsuit. “Donald Trump has built his career on attacking immigrants and dividing Americans,” Frey said.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had called attention to the fact that no statewide law designates Minnesota as a sanctuary state, clarifying that while local entities may have such policies, there is no general legal classification for what constitutes a ‘sanctuary jurisdiction’.
This action is part of a broader national strategy by the Trump administration to challenge sanctuary cities and states perceived as undermining federal immigration enforcement.
