DOC Urges Federal Government to End ‘Campaign of Misinformation’

State and Federal Authorities at Odds Over Minnesota Immigration Detainer Numbers

Conflicting data between federal and state agencies is creating confusion over the actual number of immigration detainers active in Minnesota, as immigration enforcement intensifies across the state.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed Monday that “ICE has more than 1,360 active detainers for criminals in Minnesota jails,” according to Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at DHS. Her statement appeared in a news release about Operation Metro Surge, a federal initiative targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

“We need Minnesota sanctuary politicians to let us into their jails to arrest these vicious criminals instead of releasing them and allowing them to create more victims,” McLaughlin stated, urging local officials to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

However, the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) presented substantially different figures on Thursday, challenging the federal government’s claims. According to state data, only about 380 non-U.S. citizens were in Minnesota prisons at the end of January, with approximately 270 of those having active detainers. The DOC also reported about 100 people in county jails with active detainers, bringing the state’s total to fewer than 400 – less than a third of the federal government’s claim.

The discrepancy prompted DOC Commissioner Paul Schnell to call on DHS to “share facts, not fear” and stop what the state agency described as a “continued campaign of misinformation.”

“The inconsistency and lack of clarity in Homeland Security data raises important questions about the level of federal resources being applied to the ‘worst of the worst’ targets in Minnesota,” Schnell said. “The state has a longstanding history of cooperation with ICE focused on ensuring that those who pose the greatest risk to public safety are properly identified and turned over to ICE for deportation.”

KTTC has made multiple attempts to obtain Minnesota-specific arrest data from DHS since the Trump Administration ramped up immigration enforcement in early December, but has not received any documentation to date.

ICE detainers are formal requests sent to law enforcement agencies when Immigration and Customs Enforcement believes it has probable cause to detain a non-citizen in jail or prison. These requests ask local authorities to notify ICE before releasing such individuals and can include requests to hold detainees for up to 48 hours beyond their scheduled release to allow transfer to federal custody.

Minnesota law requires sheriff’s offices to notify ICE when releasing non-citizens convicted of felonies, according to state Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office. For less serious offenses like misdemeanors, “it’s up to each county to decide,” a spokesperson from the Attorney General’s office explained.

White House border czar Tom Homan acknowledged Thursday that the Minnesota DOC has been honoring ICE detainers and cooperating with federal authorities. The federal government is now seeking greater cooperation from local jails throughout the state.

The dispute highlights the growing tensions between federal immigration enforcement policies and state and local jurisdictions across the country. Similar conflicts have emerged in other states as the federal government intensifies immigration enforcement operations.

Immigration policy experts note that such discrepancies in data reporting can complicate public understanding of immigration enforcement and potentially undermine trust in government institutions. The significant numerical gap between federal and state figures raises questions about data collection methods and the criteria being used to identify detainers.

As this situation develops, Minnesota residents and officials are left to navigate the conflicting narratives while communities grapple with the real-world implications of these enforcement actions.