U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that if Minnesota cities and counties cooperated, criminal illegal aliens, including those convicted of murder and rape, would be transferred to federal custody upon release from jail.
According to a post on X by ICE, cooperation from Minnesota jurisdictions would enable the agency to take custody of individuals with serious criminal convictions immediately after their release from local detention facilities. The post included a video and noted that such transfers support public safety by removing offenders from communities.
Minnesota jurisdictions such as Minneapolis and St. Paul have policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. ICE data show hundreds of individuals with active detainers remain in state custody, while some rural counties have agreements with ICE to support enforcement efforts.
Nationally, sanctuary jurisdictions have released more than 25,000 criminal illegal aliens from jails instead of transferring them to ICE between 2022 and 2025, according to federal data. California accounted for 13,025 releases, Illinois 2,946, and Virginia 1,601, including individuals charged with or convicted of homicide and other crimes.
ICE operates as a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security. Established in 2003 to enforce immigration laws and address transnational criminal threats, ICE focuses on arresting and removing individuals who violate immigration rules while prioritizing those posing risks to public safety. The agency employs thousands of personnel across the United States to fulfill its enforcement mission.
