Minnesota attorney General Keith Ellison, is slamming the Justice Department's lawsuit over the state’s current immigration enforcement policies.
The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Minnesota and local leaders, including Ellison, the Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and Hennepin County.
The department alleges that current policies, limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, leading to the release of dangerous criminals.
Ellison called the lawsuit baseless saying right now the state’s policies remain well within Minnesota and federal law.
"We simply want to use Minnesota resources for Minnesota people," says Ellison. "We don't want to be deputized by the federal government. They're not paying us to do it."
He double down on the fact that Minnesota is not a sanctuary state and will not allow local resources to be used for federal immigration work.
Ellison also pledged to sue the federal government "immediately" if it attempts to federalize the Minnesota National Guard.
The lawsuit filed on Monday alleges policies result in the release of dangerous criminals who would otherwise be subject to deportation. And it asks a federal court to invalidate state and local laws and policies that it says impede immigration enforcement.
“Minnesota officials are jeopardizing the safety of their own citizens by allowing illegal aliens to circumvent the legal process,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.
Minnesota is the latest jurisdiction targeted by President Donald Trump 's administration, which has also sued Colorado, Illinois, New York, New Jersey and several cities, including Boston,Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City and Rochester, New York, over their policies.