Minnesota files lawsuit against Trump administration due to surge in ICE enforcement

Samuel Perkins

Lead Reporter

Today, Minnesota has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) to stop what Minnesota's Attorney General describes as a "federal invasion".

The lawsuit claims the unprecedented surge of over 2,000 ICE agents in Minnesota in unconstitutional, according to the 10th amendment, which reserves powers not given to the federal government to the states, including law enforcement. Minnesota argues that the federal government is unlawfully interfering with local law enforcement's ability to maintain public safety, and controlling state resources.

The lawsuit also claims that the surge is also an act of political retaliation by the Trump administration against a state with Democratic leadership and "sanctuary city policies". The lawsuit argues that this is a violation of the First Amendment's protections against viewpoint discrimination and retaliation for engaging in protected speech.

This lawsuit was filed following the recent fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a US citizen from Minneapolis and numerous other reports of ICE agents using aggressive tactics officials argue are creating fear and chaos.

The goal of the lawsuit is for the state to be granted a temporary restraining order against ICE to halt or limit ICE operations. It also seeks to require ICE agents to use body cameras and visible identification.

In a statement, Homeland security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin accused State Attorney General Keith Ellison of "prioritizing politics over public safety," she also denied the claims of racial profiling stating "Law enforcement uses 'reasonable suspicion' to make arrests, as protected under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution."

"President Trump's job is to protect the American people and enforce the law — no matter who your mayor, governor, or state attorney general is," McLaughlin said. "That's what the Trump administration is doing; we have the Constitution on our side on this, and we look forward to proving that in court."

In a statement to The Mundus Times, The Office of The Attorney General's Office responds to McLaughlin statement saying "The lawsuit goes into great detail about how ICE’s activities are harming public safety, and how the targeting of Minnesota is clearly political. There’s so much underlying information and data there. I recommend reading the filing, which will illustrate how ridiculous that allegation is."