DOJ Sues Minnesota and Oregon Jurisdictions Over Sanctuary Policies

The United States Department of Justice launched a series of legal actions against state and local jurisdictions in Minnesota and Oregon, alleging that sanctuary policies obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws. In Minnesota, the DOJ sued the state, Hennepin County, and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The lawsuit targets a February 2025 advisory opinion from Attorney General Keith Ellison and a 2021 Hennepin County directive regarding immigration detainers, which federal officials claim allow dangerous individuals to circumvent legal processes.

Simultaneously, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services conducted Operation Twin Shield in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Director Joseph Edlow reported that the surge uncovered fraud or red flags in 275 of 1,000 analyzed cases, including visa and marriage fraud, while noting that local sanctuary policies hindered federal efforts.

In a separate action, the DOJ and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon petitioned a federal court to enforce administrative subpoenas against Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, and Marion counties. The federal government is seeking personal information for 10 convicted felons—including individuals convicted of rape and kidnapping—who are subject to deportation. The Oregon counties refused to comply, citing state sanctuary laws. While Multnomah and Washington counties declined the requests, Marion County filed for declaratory relief to resolve the conflict between state and federal law.