Trump administration sues Minnesota over immigration stance

Local leaders vow resistance

The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against the State of Minnesota and several local officials over what it calls “illegal sanctuary policies” that it claims obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts. The complaint, filed Monday by the U.S. Department of Justice, names the State of Minnesota, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Hennepin County, Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna S. Witt, and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul as defendants. 

Federal officials allege that Minnesota’s policies have led to the release of individuals who would otherwise be subject to deportation, including those convicted of serious crimes. According to the Justice Department, such policies violate federal law and “interfere with the government’s ability to carry out its constitutional duties.” The lawsuit seeks to compel Minnesota and local law enforcement agencies to cooperate more directly with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Minnesota officials quickly condemned the move, calling it an overreach of federal power and an attempt to punish local governments for prioritizing public safety and community trust over immigration enforcement. “Minnesotans will be less safe if we pull police from their patrols and investigations and instead direct them to assist with President Trump’s extreme immigration agenda,” said Attorney General Keith Ellison. 

“Because Minnesota refused to bow to that demand, Trump tried to cut funding for crime victims, including things like emergency shelters, crime scene cleanup, burial expenses, and forensic exams for survivors of sexual assault,” Ellison said. “I am glad we forced the administration to back down from this heinous act, but it remains deeply troubling that Minnesota had to sue the Trump administration to stop them from using crime victims as political props.”

Sheriff Dawanna S. Witt emphasized that her office will continue following state and local laws while focusing on community protection. “The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office follows all federal, state, and local laws,” Witt’s office submitted in a statement. “We work with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies on criminal investigations and the enforcement of criminal statutes. 

“Our Office has no control over any other agency: local, state, or federal, and we do not impede their efforts,” the statement reads. “Additionally, we apply the same standards to every agency, including the requirement for judicially signed warrants within our Adult Detention Center. We remain committed to getting violent offenders, illegally possessed guns, and narcotics off our streets.”

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter framed the lawsuit as a matter of local accountability. “City employees don’t work for the president, we work for the people who live here. We will stand with our immigrant and refugee neighbors no matter how many unconstitutional claims the White House makes,” Carter said.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stressed the city’s moral and legal obligation to protect its immigrant residents. “In Minneapolis, we don’t look at them as undocumented immigrants. We look at them as our neighbors. We love them. They make our city a better place. 

“And while the Trump administration has clearly filed suit against us, we will fight it with every bit of our strength,” Frey said. “We have an extremely strong case. This ordinance, which is our separation ordinance, is in compliance with the law, and so we’re going to fight this one in court, and we’re going to win… We don’t just have morality on our side. We have the law on our side. We’re very confident that a judge will determine exactly that, because they don’t get to decide how we utilize our police officers. 

“Our officers should be keeping people safe, preventing violent crimes, not hunting down a father who just dropped his kids off at daycare and is going to work a 12-hour shift,” said Frey. “That man benefits our city. We want him here.”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has repeatedly rejected claims that the state is a sanctuary jurisdiction. Earlier this year, he was among three Democratic governors summoned by a U.S. House oversight committee to testify about their states’ immigration policies. Walz emphasized that Minnesota has no statewide law protecting undocumented immigrants from deportation.

Minnesota’s sanctuary policies, adopted by several cities and counties, limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. Officials argue these measures build trust in immigrant communities, ensuring that residents, regardless of citizenship status, can report crimes and seek help without fear of deportation. 

Critics of the Trump administration’s approach say the lawsuit represents a broader national pattern of targeting states and cities that resist federal immigration directives. Under Trump’s previous term, the Justice Department filed similar suits against California and other jurisdictions that declined to honor ICE detainer requests.

Immigrant-rights advocates in Minnesota say the lawsuit threatens to undo years of progress toward building inclusive, safe communities. They warn that forcing local law enforcement to act as immigration agents could drive vulnerable residents into the shadows. 

“This is about more than politics… It’s about people’s lives,” said one Minneapolis community organizer who requested to remain anonymous. “When families fear that any contact with police could lead to deportation, it makes everyone less safe.”

Legal experts say the lawsuit could set up another high-profile clash between state and federal authority. Minnesota’s defense is expected to center on constitutional limits to federal power and the right of states and localities to set law enforcement priorities. 

For now, Ellison, Mayor Carter, Mayor Frey and Sheriff Witt say they plan to fight the lawsuit in court while continuing to prioritize safety and trust within Minnesota’s diverse communities. “Our statutory mandate is clear,” Sheriff Witt said. “To preserve the peace within Hennepin County. That will continue to be our focus.”

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