Minnesota DOC Slams DHS Claims as “Misinformation” in Heated ICE Detainer Dispute
The Minnesota Department of Corrections held a press conference Thursday to push back against what state officials call “persistent misinformation” being shared by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about ICE detainers in Minnesota. The dispute comes amid heightened scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement operations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
At the news conference, Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell said DHS has repeatedly mischaracterized how Minnesota handles ICE detainers and accused federal officials of citing inaccurate data to the public. Schnell played video footage showing inmates being handed over to ICE agents in secure, coordinated transfers, a practice he said occurs routinely, contrary to DHS claims that individuals were arrested off the streets during Operation Metro Surge.
Schnell also highlighted what he described as stark discrepancies between state DOC records and federal figures regarding ICE detainers in custody, with state data showing far fewer individuals than DHS has reported. The commissioner said DOC officials have asked DHS to reconcile these numbers but have not received a substantive response.
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The press conference follows federal assertions that Minnesota authorities have not fully cooperated with ICE detainer requests, a point DOC officials strongly reject. State leaders say coordination with ICE on transfers has been longstanding policy and that the federal narrative undermines public trust.
As tensions over immigration enforcement continue to escalate statewide, federal officials have emphasized nationwide operations targeting “criminal illegal aliens,” while Minnesota leaders seek clarity and accuracy in public messaging.
What happens next will depend on whether DHS responds to the state’s request for data clarification and whether this dispute influences ongoing debates around federal-state cooperation on immigration enforcement.
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