U.S. Justice Department sues Minnesota, Minneapolis, St. Paul over immigration enforcement policies
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The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Minnesota and several jurisdictions in the state over policies that limit local law enforcement’s collaboration with ICE.
The lawsuit filed Monday names Hennepin County, St. Paul and Minneapolis — three places with separation ordinances or similar policies, which the DOJ refers to as sanctuary city policies. The lawsuit seeks to block those policies.
“Minnesota officials are jeopardizing the safety of their own citizens by allowing illegal aliens to circumvent the legal process,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.
Federal courts have recently blocked President Donald Trump from interfering with sanctuary city policies; earlier this year, a federal judge stopped Trump from withholding federal funding from cities that refuse to assist with immigration enforcement, including Minneapolis.
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St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said in a statement that the city will stick to its separation ordinance.
“City employees don’t work for the president, we work for the people who live here,” Carter said. “We will stand with our immigrant and refugee neighbors no matter how many unconstitutional claims the White House makes.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he’s committed to the city’s separation ordinance, too.
“Donald Trump has built his career on attacking immigrants and dividing Americans, and now he’s dragging our city into court with a fear-driven, politically motivated lawsuit,” Frey said. “We won’t be bullied. We won’t cave. Minneapolis will always stand with our neighbors over Trump’s politics of fear.”
The lawsuit also names Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison, who has issued legal opinions supporting those policies, and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt for her role in sheriff’s office policies that limit work with federal immigration enforcement.
