Minnesota and Illinois Sue Trump Administration Over Immigration Operations

Minnesota and Illinois have filed separate lawsuits against the Trump administration, challenging recent immigration enforcement operations that state leaders say are unconstitutional and harmful to their communities.

The lawsuits were filed Monday and target the Department of Homeland Security and several of its agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Border Patrol. Both states are asking federal courts to halt the ongoing operations.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said the actions by federal agents have undermined constitutional rights and public safety, accusing the administration of using aggressive tactics that have caused fear and confusion in local neighborhoods. The lawsuits also include the cities of Chicago, Minneapolis, and Saint Paul.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the state’s legal action is not intended to block immigration enforcement entirely, but to stop what he described as unlawful federal overreach. Ellison alleges that heavily armed federal agents have commandeered local resources, strained police departments, and disrupted daily life in the Twin Cities.

According to Minnesota’s lawsuit, thousands of federal agents have been deployed to Minneapolis, exceeding the combined number of sworn officers in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The state claims local police have been forced to work thousands of overtime hours, costing millions of dollars.

Both states also argue the enforcement actions amount to political retaliation against Democratic-led states with policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The lawsuits cite statements made by President Donald Trump and administration officials as evidence of intent to punish so-called sanctuary jurisdictions.

The suits further allege that federal agents have engaged in racial profiling and used excessive force, including warrantless arrests, biometric scanning, and the use of crowd-control weapons. Minnesota’s complaint references an ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis that killed a U.S. citizen, followed by continued aggressive enforcement actions.

The Department of Homeland Security has defended the operations, saying the administration is acting within its constitutional authority and that increased enforcement is necessary because state and local leaders are not adequately protecting their residents.

State officials say there is no indication the federal operations will slow down, prompting them to seek court intervention to prevent further harm to their communities.

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