List naming 'sanctuary' jurisdictions, including 20 from Minnesota, removed from DHS site
The list identifying scores of so-called "lawless jurisdictions" that are allegedly not complying with Trump administration immigration orders has been removed from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website.
The list was issued earlier this week, naming jurisdictions across the country that the Trump administration claims are "deliberately instructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws."
While the press release featuring a comment DHS Secretary Kristi Noem remains live, the list that was linked to it now shows an error. Bring Me The News has reached out to DHS for an explanation.
It comes after a number of local governments found themselves taken aback at being included on the list that described them as "lawless jurisdictions" that are "endangering American citizens" for allegedly not fully cooperating with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Trump administration mass deportations program.
Some cities, such as Minneapolis and St. Paul, have defined policies stating that local police will not be involved in the enforcement of federal immigration law and prohibits officers from questioning any person about their immigration status.
But other counties that have not taken steps to promote such policies have found themselves included on the DHS list and confused by the lack of detail and vague assertions in the DHS statement as to why.
Among those included in Minnesota is Stearns County, which has never made any move to declare itself a "sanctuary" location for undocumented immigrants, with Sheriff Steve Soyka admitting they were "surprised" to see it on the list.
"Stearns County has maintained a clear and consistent approach to working and communicating with ICE and following federal requirements," Soyka said. "What we currently do in our jail is what we have done for the past 20 years with no issues. We have always notified ICE when required.
"We have not received any complaints or heard of any issues from local ICE officials – in fact, during their last visit, they complimented our staff on how we handle these matters."
The Stearns County Attorney Janelle Kendall affirmed to the Star Tribune that the county complies with ICE, but doesn't hold people for them if they are in jail on county charges.
The newspaper notes that as immigration offenses are a civil issue, some local law enforcement agencies "remain reluctant to honor ICE detainer requests" as some have found themselves sued for civil rights infractions when they detain individuals for longer than legally allowed.
"Our responsibility is to enforce the law and support public safety," Soyka added on Friday. "If DHS has identified a concern, we are open to reviewing it — but as of now, we have no indication of noncompliance, and we stand by our current practices.'
The backlash to the DHS list spanned the whole U.S., with the Associated Press reporting that the list was "riddled with misspellings" and "included sparsely populated counties that have little interaction with immigration authorities, that overwhelmingly voted for President Donald Trump and that have actively supported his hard-line immigration policies."
Less surprised at being named on the initial list was the City of Minneapolis, which reaffirmed its longstanding arms-length policy towards immigration enforcement following President Donald Trump's return to office in January.
"Minneapolis is a city that fosters inclusivity, safety, and belonging. That's something worth standing up for," the city said this week.
"The law is on our side. Two U.S. District Courts have already blocked the Trump administration from freezing funding to Minneapolis on this unlawful basis. We'll proudly be on any list that reflects our values and commitment to the people who call Minneapolis home. We will always stand with – and fight for – our neighbors."
Here are the jurisdictions in Minnesota that were originally included in the now-removed list:
Self-Identification as a State Sanctuary Jurisdiction
Anoka County
Carver County
Cottonwood County
Goodhue County
Hennepin County
Le Sueur County
Lincoln County
Lyon County
Martin County
Nicollet County
Nobles County
Otter Tail County
Pipestone County
Ramsey County
Scott County
Stearns County
Steele County
Todd County
Watonwan County
Wright County
Minneapolis
St. Paul
This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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