By Clara Nowak
The states of Minnesota and Illinois have both filed lawsuits against the federal government over ICE activity. Minnesota’s lawsuit asks the court to prevent ICE agents from being deployed to the state, to prohibit them from using excessive force, from making arrests without cause, and to require them to wear identification and body cameras.
The Illinois lawsuit goes further, asking the court to prevent Customs and Border Patrol from doing any civil immigration enforcement in Illinois without Congressional authorization. It also asks the court to block recent ICE policies, which it argues allow agents to illegally collect biometric information, make arrests without cause, use tear gas, and trespass on state and private property.
Both lawsuits cite the Tenth Amendment, which protects states’ rights; and the Administrative Procedure act, which allows courts to oversee federal agencies and stop them from acting outside of their authority. They also say that the focus of ICE on their states is both personally and politically motivated, which Minnesota argues violates the First Amendment right to free speech.
In Minnesota, the city of Minneapolis has been widely publicized as a target of ICE activity after an agent murdered Renee Nicole Good. Chicago, IL, has also been the site of several ICE shootings, including the murder of Silverio Villegas González in September, and the shooting of Marimar Martínez, who survived, in October.
Immigrants living in cities targeted by ICE operations must live their lives knowing that they may be accosted and violently arrested anywhere they go. As their neighbors try to protect them, entire communities face violence and threats. A separate ACLU class-action lawsuit recently resulted in an injunction related to ICE retaliation against protesters in Minneapolis.
While the two states struggle against what they call federal overreach, they are still ready to condemn protesters and to remind us that, before the recent escalation, they “had a proven track record of successfully working and coordinating with federal law enforcement partners.” Says the Officer of JB Pritzker.
