What is the MN Sanctuary State Coalition?

We are a united, interfaith, and grassroots coalition whose purpose is to advance progressive immigrant and refugee rights in Minnesota. We believe in treating all members of our community with dignity, respect, and compassion. We believe that families are stronger together and diversity makes our communities healthier. We believe that all policies and practices that work with immigrants and refugees should represent these values. We believe that criminalization of immigrants drives them into the shadows where they can be victimized or exploited, thus making our communities less safe.

What does it mean to be a Sanctuary State?

Sanctuary laws prohibits use of local resources, such as city or county police, to enforce federal immigration laws.  

Sanctuary laws also prohibit certain types of data sharing between state agencies and federal immigration agents.

Sanctuary laws operate under the principle that communities are safer when residents are willing to cooperate with law enforcement to address criminal activity. 


Being a sanctuary state does NOT mean that immigrants who commit crimes are protected from law enforcement.  As a matter of fact, sanctuary laws free up more resources to address serious and more dangerous criminal activity.

Why Should MN be a Sanctuary State?

Because we believe that our immigrant neighbors make Minnesota a better place for all of us.  As a matter of fact, our economy is already reliant on immigrant workers. https://www.mnchamber.com/blog/economic-contributions-immigrants-minnesota-executive-summary-and-introduction

Because unnecessary deportations are devastating to individuals and families.  Many times, when families are broken up, the person have been here numerous years and is the main breadwinner of the family and has relationships, children and businesses that will suffer and will be devastated in their absence.

Because sanctuary state laws would remove yet another incentive for police to racially profile community members.  Studies show that local law enforcement looking for deportable immigrants overwhelmingly targets poor people of color, mostly Latinx.  

Because Minnesota has a long history of being welcoming to immigrant communities.

The “Criminal” Immigrant

This narrative deliberately conflates civil immigration laws and criminal offenses.  Being on U.S. soil without status is not a crime.

Multiple studies have shown that immigrants are less likely to commit crime than native-born citizens and undocumented immigrants are less likely than documented immigrants. https://www.pnas.org/content/117/51/32340

Viewing immigrants as inherently criminal has been used to justify holding detainees in life threatening conditions for years, sexually assaulting and performing unnecessary sterilizations of female immigrants, deporting legal permanent residents, and separating children from their parents.  

A Minnesota Sanctuary State Law

A Minnesota Sanctuary State law would include, among other provisions:

• Minnesota state and local government entities do not share information or collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or transfer an undocumented person into ICE custody without a judicial warrant.

• Preventing partnership agreements with ICE, including 287g agreements, and prohibiting applying for or receiving federal funds that requires collaboration with ICE.

• That the State Attorney General create and oversee a process to address violations of this Act.

• Examples of bills in the 2021-22 state legislature that we support includes: HF 614 (Sentencing Reform), HF 11 (MN Care eligibility), HF 321 (U-visa certifications), HF 833 (Post Conviction Relief), HF 1151 (Driver’s License for All), HF 862 (Stopping state contracts with ICE), HF 1074 (Private prison ban).

What We Propose

Minnesota’s elected officials need to create policies and practices that are consistent with our stated values. We urge Governor Walz and the Minnesota State Legislature to pass and enact H.F. 1919/SF 2118, a bill that will make Minnesota a Sanctuary State for immigration purposes. We urge the Minnesota Attorney General support this law. Minnesota cities and counties should also enact Sanctuary county and Sanctuary city policies. In 2018, then candidates, Tim Walz (Governor) and David Hutchinson (Hennepin County Sheriff), publicly supported these policies but have failed to enact them.