Federal judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit against St. Paul’s immigration policies
A federal judge dismissed federal claims against St. Paul, Minneapolis and Hennepin County on July 20 in a lawsuit challenging Minnesota policies concerning cooperation with federal immigration detainers and enforcement operations.
The case was decided in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. Its caption identifies the State of Minnesota, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and Hennepin County as defendants. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison was also named among the defendants, according to the reported ruling.
Scope of the court action
The federal lawsuit concerned the authority of state and local governments to set policies affecting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The reported disposition was a dismissal of the federal claims against the two cities and Hennepin County.
The available source materials do not include the complete July 20 order. As a result, they do not establish the court’s reasoning, the precise disposition of every individual claim, or a deadline for any appeal. The materials also do not show whether the federal government will appeal.
The ruling concerns this particular challenge to Minnesota policies. It does not, on the available record, resolve all immigration-related litigation involving St. Paul or establish that federal immigration agents cannot operate in Minnesota.
Separate January case challenged federal surge
St. Paul, Minneapolis and Ellison had separately filed a federal lawsuit in January against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and related federal agencies. In announcing that filing on Jan. 12, St. Paul said the case challenged what it described as an unprecedented federal immigration-enforcement surge in Minnesota.
That January lawsuit is distinct from the July 20 ruling. The source packet does not provide a ruling or other procedural outcome for the separate case.
Next city meeting
The next listed regular St. Paul City Council meeting after the ruling is scheduled for Aug. 5 at 3:30 p.m. The city calendar identifies it as a council meeting; the available materials do not identify immigration policy or the federal court ruling as a scheduled agenda item.
St. Paul’s mayoral administration and City Council had already adopted the city’s 2026 budget through a joint council-administration process. The available materials do not link that budget action to the immigration-policy litigation or identify any budget change resulting from the July ruling.
Sources
- United States v. State of Minnesota; City of Minneapolis; City of St. Paul; Hennepin County, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota via FindLaw
- City of Saint Paul, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and City of Minneapolis sue to halt ICE surge into Minnesota, City of St. Paul
- City Council, City of St. Paul
- City of Saint Paul Finalizes 2026 Budget Through Strong Partnership and Shared Priorities, City of St. Paul
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