Federal judge dismisses challenge to Minneapolis immigration-cooperation policies

A federal judge dismissed the federal administration’s lawsuit challenging Minnesota and local policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, including policies involving immigration detainers. The ruling was issued July 20, 2026.

Minneapolis was named as a defendant in the case alongside the City of St. Paul, Hennepin County and Minnesota officials. The dismissal leaves the challenged state and local policy framework in effect based on the available report of the ruling.

What the ruling addressed

The federal lawsuit targeted policies that restrict the degree to which state and local governments cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and detainer requests. The case was a challenge to the policy framework, rather than a ruling described in the available material as ending federal immigration enforcement activity in Minnesota.

The available source packet does not include the full July 20 order. As a result, the court’s detailed legal reasoning, the disposition of individual claims and whether an appeal has been filed cannot be confirmed from the material reviewed.

Minneapolis is involved in separate litigation

The ruling comes after Minneapolis joined St. Paul and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison in a separate lawsuit announced Jan. 12 seeking to halt a federal immigration-enforcement operation in Minnesota. That separate case challenged the federal operation and involved the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and related federal agencies.

The two matters concern related immigration-enforcement issues but are procedurally distinct: the July ruling concerns a federal lawsuit challenging state and local cooperation policies, while the January action was filed by Minneapolis, St. Paul and the state attorney general’s office against federal agencies over the Minnesota operation.

What remains unresolved

The July dismissal is an immediate legal development for Minneapolis’ government and its approach to federal immigration-enforcement requests. But the available materials do not establish that the decision prevents a future appeal, bars federal agents from Minneapolis or resolves all litigation connected to federal immigration enforcement in the state.

For city residents seeking to follow Minneapolis government actions, the City Council publishes agendas, public hearings and legislative information through its Legislative Information Management System, or LIMS. The city’s 2026 election calendar separately lists Aug. 11 as the state primary Election Day and Nov. 3 as the general Election Day.