Federal judge says ICE likely used race-based stops in Minnesota
A 111‑page ruling by U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud in St. Paul concludes that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Minnesota "likely maintained unconstitutional policies" allowing investigatory stops based on race or ethnicity and warrantless arrests, but he refused to issue an injunction blocking ICE from continuing those practices. The case was brought by ACLU Minnesota and several immigrants, including U.S. citizen Mubashir Hussen, who testified they were singled out by ICE during Operation Metro Surge because of how they look or the language they spoke. Tostrud found plaintiffs made a "clear showing" that ICE adopted a policy authorizing race‑ or ethnicity‑based stops without reasonable suspicion of immigration violations, yet held they did not prove a high likelihood of being targeted again, in part because ICE claims to be drawing down operations in the state. In a field of 33 witnesses, the judge noted none had been unlawfully stopped or arrested a second time, which he said undercut the legal standard for prospective relief even as he flagged serious constitutional concerns. For Twin Cities residents — especially immigrant communities already reporting aggressive street stops — the order is a blunt confirmation from a federal judge that what people have described on the ground isn’t just paranoia or politics, but likely unconstitutional conduct that the court is, for now, allowing to continue.
📌 Key Facts
- Judge Eric Tostrud issued a 111‑page order in U.S. District Court in St. Paul on an ACLU Minnesota lawsuit challenging ICE practices.
- The judge found plaintiffs made a "clear showing" that ICE officers likely maintained unconstitutional policies permitting investigatory stops based on race or ethnicity without reasonable suspicion and warrantless arrests.
- Tostrud denied a preliminary injunction because plaintiffs could not show a high likelihood of future injury, noting none of the 33 witnesses had been unlawfully stopped or arrested a second time and citing ICE’s claimed drawdown in Minnesota.
📊 Relevant Data
Minnesota's foreign-born population was approximately 8.4% of the total population in recent data, with the largest groups being from Mexico (about 64,500), Somalia (33,500), India (30,200), and Laos including Hmong (24,400) as of 2018, and immigration has been the leading driver of population growth from 2020 to 2024 with over 81,000 new immigrants.
Data by Topic - Immigration & Language / MN State Demographic Center — Minnesota State Demographic Center
Somali immigration to Minnesota began primarily due to refugees fleeing the civil war in Somalia in the 1990s, with resettlement facilitated by organizations such as Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Charities, leading to Minnesota having the largest Somali population in the US, over 80,000 as of recent estimates.
Somali and Somali American Experiences in Minnesota | MNopedia — Minnesota Historical Society
In Minnesota, immigrants including undocumented are less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born individuals, according to state-level data.
MCLA Message on Undocumented Immigrants - Minnesota — Minnesota Ombudsperson for Families
Somali immigrants in Minnesota have higher rates of involvement in certain fraud cases compared to natives, with a recent billion-dollar welfare fraud scandal primarily involving Somali immigrants, though per capita rates and broader crime comparisons show mixed results.
Yes, Somali Immigrants Commit More Crime Than Natives — City Journal
ICE enforcement operations in Minnesota, such as Operation Metro Surge, have led to economic disruptions including sharp drops in customer traffic and revenue for immigrant-owned businesses, with undocumented immigrants contributing nearly $222 million in state and local taxes in 2022.
The economic and fiscal impacts of mass deportation: what's at risk in Minnesota — Minnesota Budget Project
Allegations of racial profiling by ICE in Minnesota target primarily Somali and Latino communities, with affidavits from 29 individuals claiming unconstitutional stops based on race or ethnicity, though specific per capita arrest statistics by race are not publicly detailed.
Database of Court Filings Shows 'Startling Pattern of Abuse' by ICE in Minnesota — Common Dreams
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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