Minnesota Senate Passes Bill Restricting Federal Agents in Immigration Enforcement

The Minnesota Senate passed a bill Monday that restricts federal agents from concealing their identities during operations, with exceptions, and opens a path for lawsuits over alleged constitutional violations tied to immigration enforcement in the state.

Lawmakers approved the measure on a 34-33 party-line vote. It now goes to the House, where Republicans and Democrats hold equal seats.

The bill directs schools, day cares and health care facilities to refuse entry to agents conducting civil immigration enforcement without a signed judicial warrant, subject to exceptions. It also bars certain civil immigration arrests of people at court proceedings.

In addition, the legislation lets state officials probe deaths from federal agents' use of force and imposes penalties or civil liability when someone fails to provide aid after a shooting.

Democratic Sen. Omar Fateh, a co-sponsor, said federal raids in Minnesota amounted to "a show of force against immigrant communities," according to The Minnesota Star Tribune.

"They said agents were here to enforce law and order," Fateh said. "Again, they lied. They broke down doors without a warrant, denied people due process, assaulted, arrested, tear-gassed and shot peaceful people."

The action follows fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in separate January incidents during immigration raids in Minneapolis. The events sparked nationwide protests.

New York lawmakers agreed with Gov. Kathy Hochul on a state budget that curbs state and local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, restricts masked agents and warrantless searches of homes, schools and other sites, and lets residents sue immigration agents.

California lawmakers passed a mask ban, though federal courts have blocked parts of that law. New Jersey and Massachusetts have proposed similar measures to stop immigration agents from wearing masks during President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

Democratic Sen. Ron Latz, another co-sponsor, said the bill seeks accountability to prevent a repeat. "What we endured was one of the darkest periods in American history when the government ... sent masked men — armed, untrained and unrestrained — to terrorize our communities," Latz said, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune.

Republicans criticized Democrats' rhetoric on the raids and called for more cooperation with ICE. "We need more cooperation in this state between our federal, state and local officials," GOP Sen. Michael Kreun said, according to the outlet. "More cooperation, not less cooperation. That will help reduce the need for street-level enforcement, which many people are very uncomfortable with."

Republican Sen. Glenn Gruenhagen said immigration crackdowns have made cities safer, despite local officials blaming the Trump administration for violence after agents shot multiple people in recent months.

Senate Republicans warned the bill could cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in lawsuits. "This bill will put Minnesota on a collision course with dangerous illegal immigrants who roam freely while federal authorities face legal challenges," Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson said in a statement.

The mask ban for federal agents includes exceptions for medical needs.