ST. PAUL, MN - Earlier this week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it has filed a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and St. Paul, among other officials for allegedly interfering with federal immigration enforcement due to "sanctuary" city policies.
The lawsuit alleges that some Minnesota elected officials' "unwillingness" to work with federal officials has endangered public safety, KSTP reported.
Court records also accuse provisions in the Minneapolis and St. Paul Code of Ordinances of "targeting the U.S. for restrictions on cooperation and information sharing."
In response to the lawsuit, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said, "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've proved our resolve in two successful court actions already this year, and we look forward to winning our third legal victory in a row against this embarrassing federal regime," he added.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also responded. "Minneapolis will not back down. We will fight with all our strength for our immigrant neighbors and we will win," he said. "Donald Trump has built his career on attacking immigrants and dividing Americans, and now he's dragging our city into court with a fear-drive, politically motivated lawsuit. We won't be bullied. We won't cave. Minneapolis will always stand with our neighbors over Trump's politics of fear."
The lawsuit also challenges a directive from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, which stated that people would not be held in the detention center solely for immigration purposes or ICE requests.
The governor's office is also not backing down, with a spokesperson for Governor Tim Walz saying, "Minnesota follows federal law. We are not a sanctuary state. We will review the lawsuit, but suspect it is another partisan stunt that will not hold up in court."
The lawsuit also takes issue with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's interpretation of a section of the Minnesota Constitution, saying it has caused many local authorities to refuse to work with federal immigration agencies.
"My team and I regularly partner with law enforcement to prosecute dangerous individuals who pose a threat to their communities, and Minnesota is not stopping the federal government from doing the same," Ellison's office said.
"This baseless lawsuit is just more political retaliation against Minnesota and we will respond in court. In the meantime, Minnesota will continue to use our law enforcement resources to actually improve public safety."
U.S Attorney Pam Bondi responded to the lawsuit, saying, "Minnesota officials are jeopardizing the safety of their own citizens by allowing illegal aliens to circumvent the legal process. This Department of Justice will continue to bring litigation against any jurisdiction that uses sanctuary policies to defy federal law and undermine law enforcement."
The lawsuit alleges that some Minnesota elected officials' "unwillingness" to work with federal officials has endangered public safety, KSTP reported.
Court records also accuse provisions in the Minneapolis and St. Paul Code of Ordinances of "targeting the U.S. for restrictions on cooperation and information sharing."
In response to the lawsuit, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said, "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've proved our resolve in two successful court actions already this year, and we look forward to winning our third legal victory in a row against this embarrassing federal regime," he added.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also responded. "Minneapolis will not back down. We will fight with all our strength for our immigrant neighbors and we will win," he said. "Donald Trump has built his career on attacking immigrants and dividing Americans, and now he's dragging our city into court with a fear-drive, politically motivated lawsuit. We won't be bullied. We won't cave. Minneapolis will always stand with our neighbors over Trump's politics of fear."
The lawsuit also challenges a directive from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, which stated that people would not be held in the detention center solely for immigration purposes or ICE requests.
The governor's office is also not backing down, with a spokesperson for Governor Tim Walz saying, "Minnesota follows federal law. We are not a sanctuary state. We will review the lawsuit, but suspect it is another partisan stunt that will not hold up in court."
The lawsuit also takes issue with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's interpretation of a section of the Minnesota Constitution, saying it has caused many local authorities to refuse to work with federal immigration agencies.
"My team and I regularly partner with law enforcement to prosecute dangerous individuals who pose a threat to their communities, and Minnesota is not stopping the federal government from doing the same," Ellison's office said.
"This baseless lawsuit is just more political retaliation against Minnesota and we will respond in court. In the meantime, Minnesota will continue to use our law enforcement resources to actually improve public safety."
U.S Attorney Pam Bondi responded to the lawsuit, saying, "Minnesota officials are jeopardizing the safety of their own citizens by allowing illegal aliens to circumvent the legal process. This Department of Justice will continue to bring litigation against any jurisdiction that uses sanctuary policies to defy federal law and undermine law enforcement."
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments