The US Justice Department has taken legal action against Minnesota over its sanctuary city policies. The lawsuit targets the state’s refusal to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities, making Minnesota the latest jurisdiction facing legal challenges under the Trump administration’s deportation campaign.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Minnesota officials are putting public safety at risk by letting unauthorized immigrants bypass federal law.
The Justice Department claims that Minnesota’s sanctuary policies are illegal under federal law. Officials argue that these policies have allowed some immigrants, including those considered dangerous, to be released rather than face federal immigration proceedings. Meanwhile, immigrants with no criminal record now make up the largest group in US immigration detention.
The lawsuit focuses on Minneapolis, St Paul, and Hennepin County, joining other Democratic-led jurisdictions such as Los Angeles, New York, Boston, New Jersey, and Colorado, all of which face similar federal legal challenges.
In June, a Trump administration court filing described Los Angeles’ sanctuary ordinance as “illegal” and asked a federal court to block it. The administration argued that sanctuary policies hinder federal efforts to address what it calls a “crisis of illegal immigration.”
Over the summer, the Justice Department sent letters to 13 states it identified as “sanctuary jurisdictions” and 22 local governments from Boston to Seattle. The letters warned that jurisdictions could face federal prosecution or risk losing federal funding if they continued policies that obstruct immigration agents.
Last month, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from cutting federal funds to 34 sanctuary cities and counties. The funding restrictions were part of an executive order signed by President Trump at the start of his second term.
Trump has long campaigned on deporting millions of immigrants. His administration argues that sanctuary city laws, which limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, violate federal statutes. Brett Shumate, an assistant attorney general in the Justice Department’s civil division, said, “Shielding illegal aliens from federal law enforcement is a blatant violation of the law that carries dangerous consequences.”
Officials from Minnesota’s governor and attorney general’s offices, as well as the Hennepin County sheriff and the mayors of St Paul and Minneapolis, have not responded to requests for comment.
The lawsuit marks the latest effort by the federal government to challenge sanctuary city policies across the country. Legal experts say the case could have wide-reaching consequences, affecting federal funding and local enforcement powers nationwide.
As debates over immigration policy continue, sanctuary city laws remain a flashpoint between state and federal authorities. Advocates for sanctuary policies argue they protect immigrant communities and foster trust between residents and local law enforcement. Critics contend that these policies undermine federal law and jeopardize public safety.
Minnesota now joins a growing list of states and cities that must defend their sanctuary policies in court. The outcome of this lawsuit may influence the approach of other jurisdictions in balancing local priorities with federal immigration mandates.
