MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the state of Minnesota, its two largest cities and a county over so-called sanctuary policies that the agency says interfere with the federal government’s authority to enforce immigration policies.
The lawsuit filed Monday targets the state, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Hennepin County, alleging their policies result in the release of dangerous criminals who would otherwise be subject to deportation. It requests a federal court to invalidate state and local laws that impede immigration enforcement.
Minnesota officials are jeopardizing the safety of their own citizens by allowing illegal aliens to circumvent the legal process, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated.
Minnesota is the latest jurisdiction targeted by President Donald Trump’s administration for its sanctuary policies, following lawsuits against several states and cities.
Meanwhile, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison defended the state's position, emphasizing that it does not prevent federal authorities from working with local law enforcement to address dangerous individuals.
This baseless lawsuit is just more political retaliation against Minnesota, and we will respond in court, Ellison said.
The lawsuit cites a nonbinding advisory opinion issued by Ellison in February stating that state or local authorities cannot hold individuals for immigration detainers if they would otherwise be released. The state also prohibits sharing driver’s license data for immigration enforcement.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey insisted that the city will continue to support immigrants and refugees, rejecting claims of the lawsuit as politically motivated. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz noted that while no statewide law exists to protect undocumented immigrants, certain cities and counties limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
The term sanctuary jurisdiction lacks a legal definition, but generally refers to jurisdictions that limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Courts have upheld the legality of such policies in various locations.
Minnesota is one of several states and cities recently classified by the Department of Homeland Security as “sanctuary jurisdictions defying federal immigration law.” This classification sparked significant controversy and criticism from various sectors.
