Case: United States v. State of Minnesota

0:25-cv-03798 | U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Filed Date: Sept. 29, 2025

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

On September 29, 2025, the United States filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota (St. Paul Division) against the State of Minnesota, the City of Minneapolis, the City of St. Paul, Hennepin County, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna S. Witt. The complaint, brought by the Department of Justice’s Office of Immigration Litigation, alleges that Minnesota and its local jurisdictions adopted a network of state statutes, constitutional provisions, city ordinances, and county directives designed to block cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The federal government claimed that Minnesota’s policies “deliberately impede” federal enforcement operations. The complaint specifically targeted Minnesota Stat. § 171.12, subds. 7b and 11, and § 168.327, which condition information-sharing on non-use for civil immigration enforcement and impose penalties for disclosures to ICE; Minneapolis Code ch. 19 and St. Paul Code ch. 44, which prohibit local officers from questioning, arresting, or detaining persons for civil-immigration violations or communicating with DHS; and Hennepin County Sheriff Directive 21-02, which forbids the jail from holding individuals solely on an ICE detainer or notifying ICE of releases.

The United States alleged these measures violated the Supremacy Clause by (1) being preempted under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and related federal regulations, and (2) discriminating against the federal government in violation of the doctrine of intergovernmental immunity. The complaint asserted that Minnesota’s laws obstruct mandatory federal processes such as immigration detainers (8 C.F.R. § 287.7) and information-sharing requirements (8 U.S.C. §§ 1373 and 1644), thereby preventing ICE from safely assuming custody of criminal noncitizens upon release from local jails. Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief to invalidate the challenged statutes, ordinances, and directives. It asked the court to bar Minnesota and its local governments from enforcing any provision that prohibits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, restricts information-sharing with DHS, or conditions access to state data on non-use for immigration purposes.

The case remains ongoing as of December 2025. No responsive filings or scheduling orders have yet appeared on the public docket.

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Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (9/30/2025)

Jack Buckfire (12/1/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71492219/parties/united-states-v-state-of-minnesota/

Judge(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Kurz, Julian Michael (Minnesota)

Perez, Elianis N (Minnesota)

Attorney for Defendant

Hsu, Alexander (Minnesota)

McGregor, Sparrowleaf Dilts (Minnesota)

McLaren, Sarah C (Minnesota)

Judge(s)

Tostrud, Eric Christian (Minnesota)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Kurz, Julian Michael (Minnesota)

Perez, Elianis N (Minnesota)

Attorney for Defendant

Hsu, Alexander (Minnesota)

McGregor, Sparrowleaf Dilts (Minnesota)

McLaren, Sarah C (Minnesota)

Richie, Joseph Robert (Minnesota)

VanNess, Spencer Davis (Minnesota)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 0:25-cv-03798	Complaint United States v. State of Minnesota et al.	Sept. 29, 2025	Sept. 29, 2025 Complaint

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Resources

Title	Description		External URL Date / External URL
EO 14287 - Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens President Donald Trump	Directing the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to publish a list of States and local jurisdictions that "obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws" (sanctuary jurisdicti…	April 28, 2025	April 28, 2025 https://www.federalregister.gov/...
EO 14159 - Protecting the American People Against Invasion President Donald Trump	Declaring that it is the policy of the United States to execute immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable noncitizens and to achieve the total and efficient enforcement of those laws, i…	Jan. 20, 2025	Jan. 20, 2025 https://www.federalregister.gov/...

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71492219/united-states-v-state-of-minnesota/

Last updated Jan. 15, 2026, 2:39 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, City of St. Paul, Minnesota, Keith Ellison, Hennepin County, Minnesota, State of Minnesota, Dawanna S. Witt filed by United States of America. No summons requested. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet) (Perez, Elianis) (Entered: 09/29/2025) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on RECAP	Sept. 29, 2025	Sept. 29, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	TEXT ONLY ENTRY: Request to Clerk's Office to Issue Summons for City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, City of St. Paul, Minnesota, Keith Ellison, Hennepin County, Minnesota, State of Minnesota, Dawanna S. Witt. (Perez, Elianis) (Entered: 09/29/2025)	Sept. 29, 2025	Sept. 29, 2025
3	NOTICE of Appearance by Julian Michael Kurz on behalf of United States of America. (Kurz, Julian) (Entered: 09/30/2025)	Sept. 30, 2025	Sept. 30, 2025
4	(Text-Only) CLERK'S NOTICE OF INITIAL CASE ASSIGNMENT. Case assigned to Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan per 3rd/4th Master list, referred to Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty. Please use case number 25-cv-3798 (JMB/JFD).Notice: All Nongovernmental Corporate Parties must file a Rule 7.1 Corporate Disclosure Statement. (MMP) (Entered: 09/30/2025)	Sept. 30, 2025	Sept. 30, 2025
5	Summons Issued as to City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, City of St. Paul, Minnesota, Keith Ellison, Hennepin County, Minnesota, State of Minnesota, Dawanna S. Witt. (MMP) (Entered: 09/30/2025)	Sept. 30, 2025	Sept. 30, 2025
6	NOTICE of Appearance by Joseph Robert Richie on behalf of Keith Ellison, State of Minnesota. (Richie, Joseph) (Entered: 11/21/2025)	Nov. 21, 2025	Nov. 21, 2025 RECAP
7	ORDER OF RECUSAL. Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan recused. Case reassigned to Judge Katherine M. Menendez for all further proceedings. NOTE: the new case number is 25-cv-3798 (KMM/JFD). Please use this case number for all subsequent pleadings Signed by Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan on 11/24/2025.(MMP) (Entered: 11/24/2025)	Nov. 24, 2025	Nov. 24, 2025 RECAP
8	ORDER OF RECUSAL. Judge Katherine M. Menendez recused. Case reassigned to Judge Jerry W. Blackwell for all further proceedings. NOTE: the new case number is 25-cv-3798 (JWB/JFD). Please use this case number for all subsequent pleadings Signed by Judge Katherine M. Menendez on 11/24/2025.(MMP) (Entered: 11/25/2025)	Nov. 25, 2025	Nov. 25, 2025 RECAP
9	ORDER OF RECUSAL. Judge Jerry W. Blackwell recused. Case reassigned to Judge Eric C. Tostrud for all further proceedings. NOTE: the new case number is 25-cv-3798 (ECT). Please use this case number for all subsequent pleadings Signed by Judge Jerry W. Blackwell on 11/25/2025.(MMP) (Entered: 11/25/2025)	Nov. 25, 2025	Nov. 25, 2025 RECAP
10	STIPULATION re 1 Complaint, (Stipulation to Extend Time to Answer or Respond to Plaintiff's Complaint) by Keith Ellison, State of Minnesota. Jointly Signed by Joseph Richie for Defendants State of MN, and Keith Ellison, Julian Kurz for Plaintiff USA, Alexander Hsu for Defendant City of St. Paul, and Sarah McLaren for Defendant Hennepin County. (Richie, Joseph) (Entered: 12/03/2025)	Dec. 3, 2025	Dec. 3, 2025
11	PROPOSED ORDER TO JUDGE re Stipulation to Extend Time to Answer or Respond 10 Stipulation,. (Richie, Joseph) (Entered: 12/03/2025)	Dec. 3, 2025	Dec. 3, 2025
12	(Text-Only) ORDER in response to 10 Stipulation. Before the Court is the stipulation of the parties for an extension of time for certain defendants to answer or otherwise respond to Plaintiff's Complaint. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6(b)(1)(A) states that a court "may, for good cause, extend the time..." by which some act must be done. (Emphasis added). The parties' stipulation does not show good cause for the requested extension because the parties have provided no reason beyond their mutual agreement to justify this extension request. Therefore, the stipulation is denied. The Court will reconsider the request if good cause is shown. Ordered by Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty on 12/4/2025.(TJS) (Entered: 12/04/2025)	Dec. 4, 2025	Dec. 4, 2025
	Order on Stipulation	Dec. 4, 2025	Dec. 4, 2025
13	STIPULATION re 1 Complaint, (Stipulation to Extend Time to Answer or Otherwise Respond to Plaintiff's Complaint) by Keith Ellison, State of Minnesota. Jointly Signed by Joseph Richie for Defs State of MN and Keith Elllison, Julian Kurz for Plaintiff USA, Alexander Hsu for Def City of St. Paul, and Sarah McLaren for Defs Hennepin. (Richie, Joseph) (Entered: 12/05/2025)	Dec. 5, 2025	Dec. 5, 2025
14	PROPOSED ORDER TO JUDGE re 13 Stipulation,. (Richie, Joseph) (Entered: 12/05/2025)	Dec. 5, 2025	Dec. 5, 2025
15	ORDER on 13 Stipulation. City of St. Paul, Minnesota answer due 1/7/2026; Keith Ellison answer due 1/7/2026; Hennepin County, Minnesota answer due 1/7/2026; State of Minnesota answer due 1/7/2026; Dawanna S. Witt answer due 1/7/2026. Signed by Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty on 12/8/2025.(TJS) (Entered: 12/08/2025)	Dec. 8, 2025	Dec. 8, 2025 RECAP
16	NOTICE of Appearance by Brian Scott Carter on behalf of Keith Ellison, State of Minnesota. (Carter, Brian) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
17	MOTION to Dismiss/General filed by Hennepin County, Minnesota, Dawanna S. Witt. (McGregor, Sparrowleaf) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
18	NOTICE OF HEARING ON MOTION 17 MOTION to Dismiss/General : Motion Hearing set for 3/2/2026 at 09:00 AM in Courtroom 7D (STP) before Judge Eric C. Tostrud. (McGregor, Sparrowleaf) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
19	MEMORANDUM in Support re 17 MOTION to Dismiss/General filed by Hennepin County, Minnesota, Dawanna S. Witt. (Attachments: # 1 LR7.1/LR72.2 Word Count Compliance Certificate)(McGregor, Sparrowleaf) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
20	MEET and CONFER STATEMENT re 17 Motion to Dismiss/General filed by Hennepin County, Minnesota, Dawanna S. Witt.(McGregor, Sparrowleaf) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
21	PROPOSED ORDER TO JUDGE re 17 MOTION to Dismiss/General filed by Hennepin County, Minnesota, Dawanna S. Witt.(McGregor, Sparrowleaf) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
22	NOTICE of Appearance by Madeleine DeMeules on behalf of Keith Ellison, State of Minnesota. (DeMeules, Madeleine) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
23	MOTION to Dismiss/General filed by City of St. Paul, Minnesota. (Hsu, Alexander) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
24	NOTICE OF HEARING ON MOTION 23 MOTION to Dismiss/General : Motion Hearing set for 3/2/2026 at 09:00 AM in Courtroom 7D (STP) before Judge Eric C. Tostrud. (Hsu, Alexander) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
25	BRIEF re 23 MOTION to Dismiss/General filed by City of St. Paul, Minnesota. (Attachments: # 1 LR7.1/LR72.2 Word Count Compliance Certificate)(Hsu, Alexander) (Entered: 01/07/2026) 1 LR7.1/LR72.2 Word Count Compliance Certificate View on RECAP	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026 RECAP
26	AFFIDAVIT of Alexander Hsu in SUPPORT OF 23 MOTION to Dismiss/General filed by City of St. Paul, Minnesota.(Hsu, Alexander) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
27	MEET and CONFER STATEMENT re 23 Motion to Dismiss/General filed by City of St. Paul, Minnesota.(Hsu, Alexander) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
28	PROPOSED ORDER TO JUDGE re 23 MOTION to Dismiss/General filed by City of St. Paul, Minnesota.(Hsu, Alexander) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
29	MOTION to Dismiss/General filed by Keith Ellison, State of Minnesota. (Carter, Brian) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
30	NOTICE OF HEARING ON MOTION 29 MOTION to Dismiss/General : Motion Hearing set for 3/2/2026 at 09:00 AM in Courtroom 7D (STP) before Judge Eric C. Tostrud. (Carter, Brian) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
31	MEMORANDUM in Support re 29 MOTION to Dismiss/General filed by Keith Ellison, State of Minnesota. (Attachments: # 1 LR7.1/LR72.2 Word Count Compliance Certificate)(Carter, Brian) (Entered: 01/07/2026) 1 LR7.1/LR72.2 Word Count Compliance Certificate View on RECAP	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026 RECAP
32	Declaration of Brian S. Carter in Support of 29 MOTION to Dismiss/General filed by Keith Ellison, State of Minnesota. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit(s) 1)(Carter, Brian) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
33	MEET and CONFER STATEMENT re 29 Motion to Dismiss/General filed by Keith Ellison, State of Minnesota.(Carter, Brian) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026
34	PROPOSED ORDER TO JUDGE re 29 MOTION to Dismiss/General filed by Keith Ellison, State of Minnesota.(Carter, Brian) (Entered: 01/07/2026)	Jan. 7, 2026	Jan. 7, 2026