Trump DOJ Sues Minnesota Over 'Sanctuary' Policies, St. Paul Mayor Blasts 'Embarrassing Federal Regime'

TWIN CITIES, MN — The U.S. Department of Justice on Monday filed a sweeping lawsuit against Minnesota, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Hennepin County, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Sheriff Dawanna Witt, alleging their sanctuary policies illegally obstruct federal immigration enforcement.

The 33-page complaint accuses state and local governments of blocking information-sharing with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, refusing to honor federal immigration detainers, and enacting ordinances that prevent police from cooperating with ICE on civil immigration enforcement.

DOJ lawyers argue the policies violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution and put dangerous criminals back on the streets.

Among the provisions challenged are:

• Minnesota Constitution Article I, Section 10, as interpreted by Ellison in a February 2025 advisory opinion that barred local law enforcement from honoring ICE detainers.
• State statutes that prohibit Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services from sharing “noncompliant” license data with federal immigration agencies.
• Minneapolis and St. Paul ordinances that restrict city employees from cooperating with ICE.
• A Hennepin County sheriff’s directive that forbids honoring ICE detainers without a judicial warrant.

Federal officials claim these restrictions force ICE to conduct more dangerous "at-large" arrests and cite cases where individuals charged with serious crimes were released from custody despite ICE detainers.

"Minnesota officials are jeopardizing the safety of their own citizens by allowing illegal aliens to circumvent the legal process," Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement.

Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate called the policies a “blatant violation of the law” and vowed to hold sanctuary jurisdictions accountable.

The lawsuit is part of a broader DOJ push against sanctuary policies, with recent cases filed in Boston, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, and Los Angeles.

Twin Cities leaders quickly pushed back.

"Minneapolis will not back down. We will fight with all our strength for our immigrant neighbors — and we will win," Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said.

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter defended his city’s long-standing separation ordinance, saying: "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. … We look forward to winning our third legal victory in a row against this embarrassing federal regime."

The case now moves to federal court in St. Paul.