Listen to the article
The Minnesota Department of Corrections has challenged figures released by the Department of Homeland Security regarding the number of incarcerated immigrants with active ICE detainers in the state, fueling an ongoing dispute between state and federal authorities.
In a statement released Thursday night, the DOC claimed there are fewer than 500 incarcerated people with ICE detainers in Minnesota’s jails and prisons—significantly lower than the 1,360 detainers DHS has repeatedly cited. According to DOC data, there are 380 non-citizens in state prisons, with 270 of them having ICE detainers, plus an estimated 100 individuals in Minnesota jails with active detainers.
“The confusing and unsupported data Homeland Security has released about the number of violent and dangerous non-citizens in Minnesota prompts serious questions about the need, cost, and public safety benefit of leaving 2,000 agents in the state,” the DOC stated.
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin responded Friday, saying the DOC’s list included naturalized citizens and green card holders who would not be subject to deportation. “Before we lodge detainers or make arrests, we do our research to verify citizenship and alienate. We are still reviewing the list in its entirety,” McLaughlin said.
The clash comes amid “Operation Metro Surge,” a controversial federal immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota that began December 1. The White House claims the operation has resulted in the arrest of 4,000 “dangerous criminal illegal aliens,” bringing the total to approximately 11,000 since President Trump took office.
On Wednesday, White House “border czar” Tom Homan announced a drawdown of 700 federal agents from Minnesota, while acknowledging cooperation from state prisons. Homan said he was now seeing “unprecedented” cooperation from counties, though he indicated a full withdrawal would depend on continued local cooperation and fewer attacks against federal agents.
The DOC has questioned the accuracy of DHS data, noting that publicly available information on the government’s “Worst of the Worst” website lists roughly 500 individuals arrested in Minnesota, far fewer than the 4,000 claimed. The department’s review of 327 individuals publicly listed by Homeland Security found that 110 were transferred directly from DOC custody to ICE, while 200 had no felony commitment time with the DOC.
“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,” said Paul Schnell, state Department of Corrections commissioner. “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.”
A specific case highlighted by the White House involved Esdras Aaron Rodriguez-Hernandez, who was arrested and charged with domestic assault but released without bail. According to the White House, after failing to appear in court, a warrant was issued for Rodriguez-Hernandez. He was later arrested on that warrant and booked into Hennepin County Jail but released the next day on $100 bail. The White House claimed, “At every step, local officials in the ‘sanctuary’ jurisdiction failed to notify ICE of his custody.”
The Rochester Post Bulletin conducted its own investigation, finding that for 18 people listed as arrested in Rochester on the “Worst of the Worst” database, the charges didn’t match the federal convictions that previously put some detainees in federal custody.
The DOC also noted that 92 individuals listed in the database are associated with federal Bureau of Prisons facilities, including 56 with the Federal Correctional Institution in Sandstone, 14 with the facility in Waseca, and 22 at the Fort Snelling Whipple Building.
This dispute highlights the complex tensions between federal immigration enforcement and state-level criminal justice systems, with both sides presenting conflicting data to support their positions on detainer enforcement and public safety priorities.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
10 Comments
The dispute over immigrant detainee numbers underscores the importance of rigorous data collection and verification, especially on sensitive issues like this. Transparency is critical.
The dispute over detainee data is concerning. Accurate statistics are essential for developing sound policies that balance public safety, civil liberties, and humanitarian considerations.
Agreed. Transparency and good-faith collaboration between state and federal authorities should be the priority here, not political posturing.
This conflict highlights the ongoing challenges around immigration enforcement and the need for open, fact-based dialogue between different levels of government. I hope they can find common ground.
This highlights the complexities around immigration enforcement and the need for all sides to work together constructively. I hope they can resolve the data discrepancies.
Yes, collaborative problem-solving is key. Politicizing the data helps no one – the priority should be public safety and justice.
Interesting to see the dispute over detainee data between state and federal authorities. Fact-checking and transparency on these numbers seems crucial for informed policymaking.
Agreed, clear and accurate data is essential here. The public deserves to understand the real situation.
I’m curious to learn more about the specific methodology and sources used by each side to arrive at their detainee counts. Reconciling the data discrepancies should be the top priority.
Absolutely, getting to the bottom of the data inconsistencies is crucial. Both state and federal authorities need to demonstrate their work transparently.