The Department of Justice asked a federal judge Monday to reject a bid by Minnesota leaders to block President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and to allow the surge of immigration agents in the state to move forward, after a lawsuit was brought by Minnesota and the Twin Cities claiming the move was unconstitutional.Related video above: Judge restricts federal officers’ use of tear gas during protests in Minneapolis”Minnesota wants a veto over federal law enforcement,” the new filing by the Trump administration said, describing the lawsuit brought by state and local officials as an “absurdity” that “would render the supremacy of federal law an afterthought to local preferences.”Officials in Minnesota filed the lawsuit last week in an effort to curb the administration’s ongoing crackdown in their state, equating the surge of federal immigration agents to the state to “a federal invasion” and citing violations of the 10th Amendment. The suit was filed shortly after Illinois, and the city of Chicago also sued the Trump administration, alleging the Department of Homeland Security has terrorized residents in “organized bombardment.”Trump and his administration have said the Constitution gives the federal government broad authority to enforce national immigration laws as the government sees fit.The administration also said Monday it is appealing a separate federal judge’s order restricting how federal agents respond to peaceful Minnesota protesters, as demonstrations continue to flare in the Twin Cities. On Sunday, demonstrators targeted a Christian church in St. Paul where one of the pastors appears to be a top official with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in the city. The church service was forced to stop, and hours later an investigation was announced by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who said the protesters were “desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers.”
The Department of Justice asked a federal judge Monday to reject a bid by Minnesota leaders to block President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and to allow the surge of immigration agents in the state to move forward, after a lawsuit was brought by Minnesota and the Twin Cities claiming the move was unconstitutional.
Related video above: Judge restricts federal officers’ use of tear gas during protests in Minneapolis
“Minnesota wants a veto over federal law enforcement,” the new filing by the Trump administration said, describing the lawsuit brought by state and local officials as an “absurdity” that “would render the supremacy of federal law an afterthought to local preferences.”
Officials in Minnesota filed the lawsuit last week in an effort to curb the administration’s ongoing crackdown in their state, equating the surge of federal immigration agents to the state to “a federal invasion” and citing violations of the 10th Amendment. The suit was filed shortly after Illinois, and the city of Chicago also sued the Trump administration, alleging the Department of Homeland Security has terrorized residents in “organized bombardment.”
Trump and his administration have said the Constitution gives the federal government broad authority to enforce national immigration laws as the government sees fit.
The administration also said Monday it is appealing a separate federal judge’s order restricting how federal agents respond to peaceful Minnesota protesters, as demonstrations continue to flare in the Twin Cities. On Sunday, demonstrators targeted a Christian church in St. Paul where one of the pastors appears to be a top official with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in the city. The church service was forced to stop, and hours later an investigation was announced by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who said the protesters were “desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers.”
