The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Hennepin County, and various state and county officials, alleging that their sanctuary city policies undermine federal immigration law. The complaint claims that these policies prevent cooperation with federal immigration authorities, leading to the release of undocumented individuals convicted of serious crimes—such as aggravated assault, burglary, drug offenses, and human trafficking—who otherwise would be subject to removal.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi, speaking for the DOJ, argued that Minnesota officials are “jeopardizing the safety” of citizens by allowing undocumented immigrants to circumvent legal processes. The department also contends parts of Minnesota’s state constitution, and local ordinances in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Hennepin County, impede or prohibit cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Minnesota officials have pushed back strongly. Attorney General Keith Ellison denounced the lawsuit as politically driven and vowed to defend the state in court, while mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul reaffirmed their commitment to protecting immigrant communities and resisting what they see as an overreach by the federal government. Local leaders argue the policies are necessary to maintain community trust in policing and oppose enabling deportation efforts that they view as harmful.
This lawsuit forms part of a broader push by the Trump administration to target sanctuary jurisdictions across the U.S., including actions against New York, Los Angeles, and Boston. The outcome could have significant implications for federal–local relations over immigration control and the limits of state and municipal autonomy.
