A coalition of sheriffs in deep-blue Minnesota is defying the state’s sanctuary status and joining forces with ICE in a move that’s rattling open-border advocates.
Since President Trump returned to the White House, five Minnesota sheriff’s departments — Cass, Crow Wing, Freeborn, Itasca, and Jackson — have entered into 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. These agreements empower local deputies to perform certain federal immigration enforcement duties, effectively turning county jails into frontline outposts for immigration control.
Under these agreements, local deputies receive training from ICE and coordinate with field offices to flag and process illegal aliens already in custody. It also allows for a “task force model,” letting local law enforcement serve as a “force multiplier” for ICE agents in the field. In other words, sanctuary policies are losing ground.
The shift comes in a state where at least 12 counties have passed sanctuary-style rules limiting cooperation with immigration authorities. These new agreements bring the total number of pro-ICE sheriff’s offices in Minnesota to seven — a sharp rebuke to the left-wing agenda pushed by Democrat Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Not surprisingly, Ellison’s office is sounding the alarm. A spokesperson claimed that 287(g) agreements lead to detentions over “misdemeanors or traffic violations” and suggested local departments consider the “drawbacks.” That’s code for: stop enforcing immigration law.
But on the ground, the effects are already being felt. A deputy from Freeborn County reported a noticeable “uptick” in immigration detentions since signing the agreement — a clear sign that illegal aliens who would have previously slipped through the cracks are now being held accountable.
These sheriffs are putting law and order above politics. They’re refusing to turn a blind eye to criminal aliens — even if it means clashing with the state’s Democrat leadership. And they’re not alone. Sherburne and Kandiyohi counties had already been cooperating with ICE before this latest surge.
This trend could be the beginning of a broader realignment in blue states, where rural sheriffs are tired of being told to stand down while their communities bear the brunt of illegal immigration. As Trump ramps up enforcement nationwide and strips federal funding from jurisdictions that shield illegal aliens, local leaders are waking up to the costs of playing sanctuary politics.
Despite opposition from Ellison and the progressive political class, these sheriff’s offices are choosing public safety over political correctness. The Biden years normalized defiance of federal law in the name of “equity.” Now, the tide is turning — and the rule of law is making a comeback, one county at a time.
