(The Center Square) – Several Minnesota state lawmakers are speaking out following the joint lawsuit filed against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over ICE operations in the state by Attorney General Keith Ellison.
“Instead of working with the federal government to target and arrest criminal illegal immigrants, they are wasting state resources on a lawsuit that seeks to override the federal government’s authority to enforce immigration law,” House Speaker Lisa Demuth and GOP Floor Leader Harry Niska said in a joint statement. “Minnesotans deserve leaders that allow the removal of violent criminals – not ones that demand they remain in our communities.”
Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, who is running for governor, also responded to news of the lawsuit.
“By filing this lawsuit, Democrats appear to be more focused on protecting criminals than protecting Minnesotans from murderers & child rapists,” Robbins said on social media. “ICE operations in our communities would not be necessary if Walz & Frey ended the sanctuary policies & allowed ICE to detain & deport criminal illegal immigrants at the courthouse & jail. Instead, they are forcing ICE to track criminals one by one through our neighborhoods. We should work WITH our federal partners, not against them.”
Rep. Elliot Engen, R-Lino Lakes, also offered comment, saying that Ellison should be focusing on the fraud allegations.
“Instead of continuing to make excuses for failed leadership, and attempting to sue the Trump administration, Keith Ellison should attempt to sue even a single fraudster. You’d think he’d care about the $9 Billion+ in stolen tax dollars that Minnesotans have been forced to foot the bill for, but instead, political games seem to be all he’s interested in,” Engen said.
Ellison announced the joint lawsuit with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her against DHS, to halt what he described as an unlawful and unprecedented surge of ICE agents into the state.
During a press conference, Ellison labeled ICE operations as a politically motivated “federal invasion.” He alleged that the operation violates the Constitution, federal law, the 10th Amendment, and the Administrative Procedures Act.
Ellison claimed that ICE was conducting “warrantless racist arrests” with “thousands of poorly trained, aggressive, and armed agents.”
Ellison said that Minnesota is home to less immigrants than Texas, Florida and Utah, but that none of those states are experiencing the same level of immigration enforcement.
The official ICE X account responded to Ellison’s comment, saying that in those states the local leaders work with ICE.
“In cities and states where local leaders actively work with ICE to protect their communities from criminal illegal aliens, violent protests – like those in Minnesota – do not occur, and operations proceed as planned,” ICE wrote. “Everything stems from local leadership and their cooperation or noncooperation with ICE.”
The complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to declare the ICE/DHS “Operation Metro Surge” unconstitutional and unlawful and to permanently halt it.
