Judge Rejects Trump's Lawsuits Against Sanctuary City Policies

WHO:

Alternet - President Donald Trump, Chief Judge Eric Tostrud, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Hennepin County, Hennepin County's sheriff

WHAT:

Alternet - A federal judge in Minnesota rejected the Trump administration's lawsuit aimed at forcing Minnesota to comply with federal immigration law.

MPR News - The lawsuit was dismissed in its entirety by Chief Judge Eric Tostrud.

Alternet - Tostrud concluded that the government's arguments violated the Constitution's Tenth Amendment.

WHERE:

Alternet - Minnesota

WHEN:

Alternet - The ruling was reported on a Monday.

WHY:

Alternet - The Trump administration argued that Minnesota's sanctuary laws violated the Constitution's Supremacy Clause.

MPR News - The lawsuit claimed that local policies restricting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement were unconstitutional.

HOW:

Alternet - Tostrud found the government's claims to be speculative and characterized a service-of-process defect against Minneapolis as a harmless delay.

Alternet - Tostrud cited legal precedent stating that “the Federal Government may not command the States' officers... to administer or enforce a federal regulatory program."

Alternet - The judge noted that “[r]efusing to help is not the same as impeding” and that an ICE detainer is a "request," not an order.

(UPDATED July 21, 2026 05:59 UTC)

A federal judge in Minnesota has dismissed a lawsuit from Trump aimed at compelling the state to comply with federal immigration law, stating that the government's arguments violated the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution. Chief Judge Eric Tostrud ruled that the claims made by the Trump administration were speculative and highlighted that local policies restricting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement do not constitute a violation of the Constitution's Supremacy Clause. Tostrud emphasized that refusing to assist federal authorities is not the same as obstructing them, and he clarified that an ICE detainer is merely a request, not an order.