After outcry over federal raid, Minneapolis police memo reiterates non-participation in federal immigration enforcement
After a federal raid in Minneapolis spurred community unrest, the city's police department has reiterated to its rank-and-file instructions not to collaborate with federal immigration agents.
Though Mayor Jacob Frey and other leaders said the early June raid was not related to immigration, the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement drew many community members to the streets in protest. The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also involved in what Frey said were actions "related to a criminal search warrant for drugs and money laundering."
Minneapolis police and members of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office were also at the scene. Frey said MPD's only involvement was crowd control and community safety, and the department said it had no advance notice of the feds' actions. In a statement, the sheriff's office said it was working with federal partners on criminal investigations and "has no involvement in civil immigration."
Following public outcry, Minneapolis Police Department Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell sent the following email to officers and staff on Friday, emphasizing its policies on immigration enforcement:
"No MPD personnel shall respond to any immigration enforcement related activity. No MPD personnel shall assist with crowd control at an immigration enforcement related activity and no MPD personnel shall assist in the removal of persons related to immigration enforcement.
"This is a reminder that all MPD personnel are prohibited from involvement in any federal civil immigration enforcement activities.
"Any assistance for federal enforcement action must be routed through the chain of command for evaluation and authorization by the Chief of Police or Chief's designee.
"Members of the MPD shall not self-deploy to any related immigration enforcement activity.
"We remain committed to supporting public safety and maintaining trust within our communities."
The department itself also issued a statement about the message:
"Assistant Chief Blackwell's memo serves as a clear reminder of the Minneapolis Police Department's longstanding policy and the City's ordinance prohibiting involvement in federal civil immigration enforcement activities.
"The email was issued to help ensure officers understand how to appropriately respond to any requests for assistance related to immigration enforcement. This clarification was especially important in light of recent public confusion and misinformation following the federal operation earlier this week.
"Our role remains focused on addressing criminal activity and maintaining public safety, while respecting the boundaries set by city ordinance and department policy."
Jamie Holt, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security investigations in Minnesota and the Dakotas, said the raid was "a groundbreaking criminal operation ... marking a new chapter in how we confront complex, multidimensional threats."
WCCO found federal search warrants connected to the raid at the courthouse, but they were sealed.
MPD's renewed emphasis on maintaining independence from federal immigration enforcement comes as massive anti-ICE protests continue in Los Angeles. The Trump administration has sent the National Guard and members of the Marine Corps to L.A., despite California Gov. Gavin Newsom's warnings that their presence would only inflame the situation.
Note: The video above originally aired June 5, 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bad actors in LA protests a 'good thing' for Trump's immigration agenda: Chuck Rocha
Protests in Los Angeles and other cities continue as citizens protest ICE raids taking place in their communities. Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha encourages Americans to protest if they have disagreements with the government but cautions against bad actors who cause destruction and violence, saying, "Those are the imagery Donald Trump wants to see … because it's a good thing for him." Rocha talks about how President Trump campaigned on immigration, which he says is a key reason Trump was reelected. Rocha believes Democrats have a hard time sticking to core values and need to return to those if they want to win elections. #DonaldTrump #LosAngeles #ICEprotests
Axios
29 minutes ago
- Axios
Pam Bondi: LA protesters "very different" to Jan. 6 rioters Trump pardoned
The Trump administration is "not scared to go further" in its response to Los Angeles ' ongoing fiery protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wednesday. Why it matters: President Trump has referred to protesters as "insurrectionists" and has already taken the rare steps of federalizing California's National Guard and deploying the Marines to LA, prompting reporters to ask Bondi whether he'll next use emergency powers under the Insurrection Act. California's Democratic leaders have expressed strong opposition to the federal response, and Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) have traded insults as they blamed each other for the unrest. What they're saying: "Right now, in California, what we're doing is working," Bondi said, after being asked about whether Trump would invoke the 1807 law that allows presidents to deploy U.S. troops to quell domestic unrest. "By bringing in the National Guard, by bringing in the Marines, right now, to back them up, to protect our federal buildings, to protect highways, to protect the citizens," she said during her briefing with reporters. "So, right now, in California, we're at a good point. We're not scared to go further. We're not frightened to do something else if we need to." Bondi expressed hope that the federal action and the downtown night-time curfew that LA Mayor Karen Bass imposed on Tuesday to address looting and vandalism would bring the situation under control. Of note: Newsom in a Tuesday night address said that Trump is "not opposed to lawlessness and violence, as long as it serves HIM," adding: "What more evidence do we need than Jan. 6th?" A reporter asked Bondi whether there was a double standard in the administration defending law enforcement during the current protests when Trump pardoned most of the roughly 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters during his first day back in office. "Well, this is very different," Bondi said. "These are people out there hurting people in California right now. This is ongoing." State of play: There have now been six days of ICE protests in LA, and they've triggered similar demonstrations nationwide.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Pritzker to defend Illinois' sanctuary policies before congressional committee Thursday
It's the eve of one of the biggest moments of JB Pritzker's political career. In made-for-TV theater, the Illinois governor is in Washington to face the Republican-led House Oversight Committee. The hearing topic: sanctuary polices for undocumented immigrants. For Pritzker, long rumored to have his eye on a future White House run, the stakes are enormous. Pritzker's political future: Where things stand after passage of Illinois budget 'We're gonna see Donald Trump's Congressional Republicans really put on a show. And this is going to be full of political theatrics. They are going to try to put people on the spot, but I think Governor Pritzker is going to have a steady hand, he's going to do what he has always done, which is put the people of Illinois first,' said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. Governors of New York and Minnesota will also join Pritzker on the hot seat. Republicans are going after Sanctuary Laws, saying they protect criminals — and they're likely to focus on the Trust Act. This Illinois law enables people to report crime and call emergency services regardless of their immigration status. To prep, Pritzker retained a Washington, D.C. law firm. A source says the billionaire paid for their services out of his own pocket. He's also getting an assist from a former White House counsel to President Joe Biden. More than 15 arrested in Tuesday ICE protests; ICE tactical team on 'stand by' I think he'll be well prepared. He knows how aggressive the Republicans will be based on what they did with Mayor Johnson, but as you probably noticed, they kind of get ridiculous at some point,' said Congressman Raja Krishanmoorthi. In March, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was hauled before Congress when Republicans took aim at Sanctuary City mayors. The attacks were relentless. 'This is why you have 6 percent approval ratings because you suck at answering questions,' said Nancy Mace. 'When there's trust between these city residents and police, undocumented immigrants come forward to report crimes to local law enforcement and provide information that helps police solve those crimes,' Johnson responded. Back from Capitol Hill, mayor talks Congressional questioning, CTU contract, Dept. of Ed. Republican Congressman Darin LaHood, rumored to be considering a run for U.S. Senate or Illinois governor, is expected to join Thursday's hearing to question Pritzker. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
