Minnesota Lawyers Reportedly Coordinating To Minimize Chances of ICE Enforcement Actions In The City

Emails from members of a Minnesota criminal defense lawyers' association show coordinated efforts to help undocumented immigrants avoid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehension in Minneapolis.

The emails, circulated within a private listserv for members of the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) and reported by Fox News, discuss strategies such as requesting virtual court hearings to prevent in-person arrests.

The emails coincide with a legal opinion issued by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, in which he said that that state and local law enforcement agencies cannot detain individuals based solely on immigration holds if they would otherwise be released. One email warned that plainclothes ICE officers had been spotted at the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility, urging recipients to "do all we can to keep our clients safe."

Several attorneys responded by suggesting ways to keep defendants out of court, including requesting Zoom hearings to minimize physical presence. One attorney noted that judges in Minnesota's Third Judicial District had proactively encouraged such requests in light of ICE's presence at courthouses. Others advised against explicitly mentioning immigration concerns in formal filings, suggesting alternative justifications.

The email exchanges come as ICE continues to ramp up enforcement operatoins across the country. A recent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directive reversed previous Biden-era guidelines that had restricted ICE and Customs and Border Protection operations in designated "sensitive" locations such as courthouses and schools. A DHS spokesperson told the outlet that the administration's approach aims to remove individuals with criminal records and those who have previously been ordered deported.

An American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attorney expressed interest in challenging local cooperation with ICE in court, arguing that detaining individuals without judicial warrants is unlawful.

The report comes as the Trump administration seeks to crack down on so-called sanctuary cities, whose officers refuse to cooperate with ICE unless a warrant is issued. In that context, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation last week into whether the Dallas Police Department is refusing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

The inquiry follows comments made by Interim Police Chief Michael Igo, who has been vocal about his office's position on the issue, announcing back in February that the force will not participate in immigration enforcement actions led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), opting instead to hold community outreach meetings to reassure immigrant residents.

Igo's position has drawn criticism from prominent conservatives, including Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. Speaking on Fox News, Patrick characterized the remarks as defiance of federal law and suggested that state lawmakers could pursue legislation requiring law enforcement agencies to enter into formal agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).