Articles

# Minnesota’s “Sanctuary” Defiance Has Consequences

The White House
January 16, 2026

As President Donald J. Trump delivers on the promise that secured his overwhelming re-election, Minnesota’s “leaders” have chosen defiance over partnership. Instead of working with the Trump Administration to uphold the law and protect public safety, the state’s Democrat politicians have repeatedly boasted of their so-called “sanctuary” status, encouraged resistance, and smeared ICE officers.

This toxic combination of “sanctuary” policies and anti-ICE rhetoric has created a climate of hostility that endangers federal officers and incites violence. Make no mistake: the responsibility for the enhanced enforcement operations in Minnesota — and the tension and violence — lies squarely with these officials who refuse to partner with the Trump Administration and instead put their Radical Left agenda over public safety and the rule of law.

For years, the state’s Democrat politicians have bragged about being a safe haven for criminal illegal alien thugs:

- Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison: “There is nothing in American law that requires local officials to cooperate with federal law enforcement officials… We’re going to devote the resources of our state to our state business, not immigration business.”
  - Ellison: “Minnesota law enforcement agencies risk significant civil liability if they enforce immigration detainers.”
  - Ellison: “I’m one of them people who believes we should give our neighbors sanctuary and if you ask yourself, ‘What would I do if I was a Gentile in 1941 if my Jewish neighbors were under attack by the Nazis, would I give them sanctuary? You might be about to find out what you would do. Would you pass that moral test or would you fail it?’”
- Gov. Tim Walz: “My position on Minnesota becoming a sanctuary state boils down to who has the responsibility for enforcing immigration laws… The role of law enforcement is to enforce state and local laws, not federal immigration laws, and I strongly believe that they should not do so.”
- Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey: “I want to speak directly to people who are undocumented … In the city of Minneapolis, we will stand up for you and we will do anything in our power to help because you’re not an alien in our city … As for cooperation with ICE, the answer is no.”
  - Frey: “Minneapolis will continue to be a safe haven for undocumented immigrants.”
  - Frey: “In Minneapolis, we do not enforce federal immigration law because that’s not our job.”
- Rep. Ilhan Omar: “I stand with Minnesota officials who are defending our values and our immigrant neighbors against these unconstitutional attacks on sanctuary policies.”
  - Omar: “I will continue to fight until we stop treating immigrants like criminals.”
  - Omar: “We are fighting to protect immigrant families from mass detention and deportation.”
  - Omar: “We need a plan to protect … undocumented people.”
  - Omar: “If you are an undocumented immigrant, please know that you are in my thoughts and that I will keep fighting.”
- Minnesota State Sen. Omar Fateh: “With President Trump’s immigration policies targeting sanctuary cities like Minneapolis, the fear of ICE raids is very real and our communities are on high alert… Minneapolis stands defiant and ready to protect our neighbors and loved ones.”
- Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez: “In Minneapolis, we will not compromise on values of protecting our undocumented immigrants and we will not help with immigration enforcement. It’s not the city’s role to do the federal government’s inhumane work.”
- Minneapolis City Council Member Aisha Chughtai: “[T]he City must be ready to act as the last line of defense for targeted communities.”
- Former Minneapolis City Council Member Jeremiah Ellison: “[I]t’s clear that being a sanctuary city is not enough to protect our neighbors.”
- Saint Paul City Council Vice President Hwa Jeong Kim: “The City of Saint Paul abides by its separation ordinance that makes clear local law enforcement officers are only to uphold local laws in the course of their duties, not federal immigration policies. SPPD cannot and does not cooperate with ICE.”
- Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara: “Any participation in immigration enforcement would have a chilling effect on our commitment to bias-free, community-oriented policing.”

## Related

- ### Sick Politicians Want Killers, Rapists Roaming Our Streets

  Articles
  February 25, 2025

- ### Border Czar Affirms Commitment to Public Safety, Removing Violent Criminals in Minnesota

  Articles
  January 29, 2026

- ### New Milestone in Operation Metro Surge: 4,000+ Criminal Illegals Removed from Minnesota Streets

  Articles
  February 4, 2026

- ### 57 Times Sick, Unhinged Democrats Declared War on Law Enforcement

  Articles
  January 9, 2026

- ### “Sanctuary” Policies Put Accused Killer Back on the Streets

  Articles
  April 15, 2025

Notifications