Overview

• The complaint names the State of Minnesota, the Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Hennepin County, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna S. Witt.
• The Justice Department alleges local limits on cooperation have led to releases of noncitizens convicted of aggravated assault, burglary, and drug and human trafficking.
• The suit seeks to invalidate state, county, and city rules that restrict data sharing with federal agents and curb when police can ask about immigration status.
• Attorney General Keith Ellison called the case baseless and said Minnesota already shares information on undocumented convicted felons with DHS, while the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul vowed to fight the lawsuit.
• DOJ described the action as part of a broader campaign that has produced recent suits against Boston, New York City, Rochester, New Jersey, Colorado, and Los Angeles after an August 5 list of sanctuary jurisdictions included Minnesota.