Judge Dismisses DOJ Challenge to 4 Minnesota Immigration Policies
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 20
Judge Dismisses DOJ Challenge to 4 Minnesota Immigration Policies
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 20
Summary
U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud on Monday threw out the Justice Department’s suit against Minnesota, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Hennepin County over limits on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Tostrud ruled the measures regulate only how state and local officials do their jobs, not how the federal government acts, rejecting DOJ’s claim that the policies obstruct federal authority.
The challenged rules include restrictions on police asking about immigration status, Hennepin County’s refusal to coordinate with ICE, and a state legal opinion barring jails from holding people longer solely for immigration officials.
The case was part of a broader Trump administration push against Democratic-led jurisdictions; a similar lawsuit against Illinois officials was dismissed last year.
The Minnesota fight escalated after the administration used the same rationale to flood the Minneapolis area with agents in late 2025 and early 2026, when thousands were arrested and three people were shot.