Minnesota and Federal Immigration Enforcement: Know Your Rights
With the increased presence of federal immigration agents in Minnesota, it’s important for Minnesotans to understand the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution and Minnesota state law. This page contains links to several guides to help you better know your rights in several areas and will be updated as new guides are created.
Know Your Rights as an immigrant
Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. This guide from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) outlines your rights as an immigrant and how to express them.
Know Your Rights when encountering law enforcement
This guide from the ACLU outlines your rights when you encounter members of law enforcement in your community.
Guidance from Attorney General Ellison for immigrant communities in Minnesota
This guidance, issued by Attorney General Ellison offers information on law enforcement interactions with immigrant communities, including:
- The authority of state and local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws
- Clarity on the circumstances under which federal immigration officers can be subject to state criminal prosecution
- Immigrant rights in the driver’s license application process
- An overview of The U and T visa programs and state laws around certification requests
Tenant Rights if ICE Comes Knocking: Immigration enforcement at rental properties
Rental communities across Minnesota are concerned about the rise of federal immigration agents appearing at their doorsteps. The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office provides this guidance for Minnesotans who rent or lease out homes if immigration agents request access to their property.
As a renter, you have the same privacy and Fourth Amendment rights as a homeowner. This means that you control access to your rental house, apartment, and even your room in a boarding home. This is true for all renters, including those who pay rent with a subsidy like Section 8 voucher, live in project-based subsidized housing, or are a resident of a manufactured home park.
Guidance from Attorney General Ellison on ICE Enforcement in Sensitive Locations
The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office provides this guidance for Minnesota organizations like houses of worship, shelters and other social-service organizations, medical clinics, hospitals, and other sensitive locations as they consider how to respond to ICE’s new policies regarding these kinds of locations.
This guidance addresses the rules that apply to immigration enforcement in public and non-public spaces at sensitive locations, the difference between judicial and administrative warrants, protocols an organization may establish for interacting with ICE, and an organization’s rights and responsibilities if ICE is conducting immigration enforcement.
Protect Yourself from ICE Surveillance
There are media reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is utilizing advanced tools to identify and track people. These reports indicate the tools may utilize data originally collected from people’s online activity, phone apps, smart devices, and vehicles.
The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office reminds Minnesotans to take steps to protect your privacy and security. We caution that there is not one perfect solution but that taking small, deliberate steps is worthwhile.
