DOJ Sues Minnesota Over Sanctuary Policies

The U.S. Department of Justice sued the State of Minnesota, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Hennepin County and named officials — including Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna S. Witt and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison — alleging local “sanctuary” policies unlawfully obstruct federal immigration enforcement and lead to the release of individuals who would otherwise be removable. The complaint asks a federal court to invalidate state and local laws and policies, invokes the administration’s border-emergency enforcement authority, and cites a nonbinding advisory opinion and state limits on sharing driver’s-license data as examples of rules that impede federal immigration work. The DOJ framed the action as part of a broader campaign of litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions nationwide. Minnesota leaders — including Ellison, Gov. Tim Walz’s office and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter — called the lawsuit political retaliation, unconstitutional, and pledged to defend policies they say promote public safety, community trust and protect immigrant and refugee residents. Both sides signaled more litigation ahead as Minnesota prepares to defend its practices in federal court.