Federal Judge Dismisses Justice Department Lawsuit, Leaving Minnesota Sanctuary Policies in Place

A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit challenging Minnesota's sanctuary policies on Monday. District Judge Eric Tostrud, a Trump appointee, ruled that the policies are not preempted by federal law, The Washington Times reported. He said the policies govern the actions of state and local authorities rather than federal officers.

“They do not command the federal government or its contractors to act.

Rather, they regulate how state and local officials perform their duties,” Tostrud wrote. The judge specifically held that ICE deportation detainer requests are not mandatory and cannot be imposed on unwilling local law enforcement departments. Minnesota prohibits state officials from sharing information with federal immigration officers, including driver’s license data, and maintains restrictions on honoring detainers.

State Attorney General Keith Ellison issued an opinion stating that those restrictions are consistent with the state constitution. The Justice Department filed the lawsuit in September 2025. The ruling marks the latest in a series of dismissals of similar Justice Department challenges, including cases involving Los Angeles and Boston.