Minnesota lawmakers gear up for ICE policy clash
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The ICE surge in Minnesota may be ending, but the political fight over Trump's 10-week immigration operation is just heating up.
State of play: Lawmakers at the divided Legislature have teed up a range of bills on the topic ahead of this year's session, which starts Tuesday.
🐘 Republican leaders say they'll revive a push to override local sanctuary policies by requiring that local prosecutors notify the feds when an undocumented immigrant is arrested on suspicion of a serious crime.
🫏 Democrats are proposing a slate of bills that would put guardrails on future operations — and strengthen legal recourse for residents whose rights are violated by federal agents.
- Ideas floated include banning masks for ICE agents, restricting immigration enforcement near schools and requiring that federal agents provide medical aid if they shoot someone.
The intrigue: Recent polling has shown broad public support for both reforming ICE and cooperation on immigration enforcement between local and federal agencies.
Reality check: Even if they pass, bills seeking to rein in ICE could face legal challenges.
- "Our ability to affect a lot of change around ICE operations is limited," Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson said. "I hope that Democrats don't simply use this as a distraction away from larger issues."
"Even if the odds are long, the fight is worth fighting," House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson countered.
Follow the money: Businesses, renters, local governments and schools say they need cash to recover from economic hits they took as a result of the surge.
- Last week, Walz proposed a $10 million relief package.
But there's not much wiggle room in the state's budget, leaders on both sides warn, and some Republicans are already a hard no.
- "I ain't voting for a bailout," GOP Rep. Mary Franson posted on X.