Overview

• Leaked emails from the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers show attorneys coordinating to protect undocumented clients from ICE at courthouses.
• Strategies included requesting virtual court hearings to prevent in-person appearances where ICE agents might be present.
• Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison issued a legal opinion stating local law enforcement cannot detain individuals solely on ICE detainers without a judicial warrant.
• Legal experts suggest the tactics may raise questions about the proper use of court resources and whether they obstruct federal enforcement.
• The ACLU expressed interest in challenging ICE detainer practices, citing past legal victories and settlements in similar cases.