Minnesota and Illinois sue Trump administration over immigration deployments

State and city officials in Minnesota and Illinois filed federal lawsuits against the Trump administration on Monday, saying the mass deployment of immigration agents to the Minneapolis and Chicago regions violated the U.S. Constitution and infringed on states’ rights. Illinois asked a judge to block U.S.

Customs and Border Protection "from conducting civil immigration enforcement" in the state without "express congressional authorization," while Minnesota asked a judge to block the federal government from "implementing the unprecedented surge in Minnesota." The suits, filed separately in U.S.

District Courts, came a week into a stepped-up enforcement effort in Minnesota and after a highly visible campaign in Chicago. Both complaints said the deployments violated state sovereignty under the Constitution’s 10th Amendment. Federal officials defended the operations. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, called the Illinois case "a baseless lawsuit, and we look forward to proving that in court." She added, "It really is astounding that the left can miraculously rediscover the 10th Amendment when they don’t want federal law enforcement officers to enforce federal law," and said such enforcement was "a clear federal responsibility" under the Constitution.

Key Topics

Politics, Trump Administration, Minnesota, Illinois, Ice