MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Minnesota, its largest cities, and a county, claiming that their sanctuary policies obstruct federal immigration enforcement.
This legal action targets Minnesota, along with the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and Hennepin County, alleging that their immigration policies lead to the release of dangerous individuals who would otherwise face deportation. The lawsuit requests a federal court to nullify state and local laws perceived to hinder immigration efforts.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, Minnesota officials are jeopardizing the safety of their own citizens by allowing illegal aliens to circumvent the legal process. This lawsuit marks another instance of the Trump administration targeting states with similar policies, having previously sued several others including Colorado, Illinois, New York, and California.
In response, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison refuted the allegations, asserting that the state is not obstructing federal partnerships with local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws.
Ellison described the lawsuit as politically motivated retaliation against Minnesota, promising to defend the state in court. The suit references a nonbinding advisory opinion that he issued, which indicated that state law does not permit local authorities to hold individuals under immigration detainers if they would otherwise be released. The lawsuit criticizes various local jurisdictions for utilizing this opinion to prevent cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey emphasized the city's commitment to welcoming immigrants and criticized the suit as fear-driven and politically motivated.
Governor Tim Walz noted that Minnesota lacks statewide sanctuary laws intended to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation, though local jurisdictions impose various restrictions on immigration enforcement cooperation.
The Department of Homeland Security previously identified Minnesota as a sanctuary jurisdiction, leading to the current legal dispute.
