US Department Justice Sues Minnesota Minneapolis St Paul Hennepin County Over Sanctuary Policies

The U.S. Department of Justice, under President Donald Trump's administration, has filed a lawsuit against Minnesota, its two largest cities—Minneapolis and St. Paul—and Hennepin County, alleging that their sanctuary policies interfere with federal immigration enforcement and result in the release of dangerous criminals who would otherwise be subject to deportation. The lawsuit seeks to invalidate state and local laws that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, such as restrictions on honoring immigration detainers and sharing driver’s license data for immigration enforcement. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and city officials have strongly opposed the lawsuit, calling it baseless political retaliation, emphasizing that their policies comply with state and federal law and that Minnesota is not a sanctuary state. Ellison also vowed to resist federal attempts to federalize the Minnesota National Guard. The Trump administration has similarly targeted other states and cities with lawsuits over sanctuary policies, framing the legal actions as necessary to uphold federal immigration laws and protect public safety. Local leaders, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, defended their immigrant-friendly policies and pledged to fight the lawsuit in court.