Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey says the city is not going to be bullied by the Trump administration's politics of fear.
His counterpart across the Mississippi River says St. Paul employees don't work for the president.
This after the U-S Justice Deparment sued Minneapolis and St. Paul over so-called sanctuary city policies.
Also named in the suit are St. Paul and the state of Minnesota.
"Minnesota officials are jeopardizing the safety of their own citizens by allowing illegal aliens to circumvent the legal process," said US attorney general Pam Bondi in a statement.
The suit was filed even though both Minneapolis and St Paul prohibit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Also there is no state law making Minnesota a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants.
The 34-page lawsuit is asking a judge to invalidate sections of the state constitution, city codes, and administrative orders in Hennepin County.