Somali and Hispanic Residents of Minnesota Sue Federal Immigration Authorities
In a significant legal move, Somali and Hispanic Minnesotans have initiated a lawsuit against President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This legal action aims to challenge and effectively curtail federal immigration enforcement within the state.
On Thursday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stepped in to represent several individuals, including Somali immigrant Mubashir Khalif Hussen, Somali-American Mahamed Adals, and Hispanic American Javier Do. The lawsuit names DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE Director Todd Lyons, and other officials as defendants.
The plaintiffs are requesting that a federal court issue a statewide injunction to halt what they describe as “illegal policies and practices” employed by ICE officers, which include serious allegations of racial profiling.
The lawsuit contends that federal agents prevent individuals from inquiring about their immigration status unless there’s reasonable suspicion of potential removal. Specifically, it asserts that there’s a targeting of those identifying as Somali or Latino.
Moreover, the complaint states:
First, federal agents are detaining people for immigration issues without warrants or adequate grounds for believing they can be removed. This includes U.S. citizens—who should not be held for civil immigration matters—along with individuals carrying valid immigration status.
Second, federal agents are making warrantless arrests without any probable cause to suspect that these individuals are a flight risk. The Fourth Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause, along with federal constitutional guarantees, outlaw such tactics. Authorities can’t just stop and arrest someone due to their appearance.
These practices run counter to established legal protections, allowing U.S. residents to live their daily lives without the fear of being detained on the streets arbitrarily or due to skin color. Such policies cannot coexist with the law and must be struck down.
The lawsuit specifically charges Noem and Lyons with implementing a “racial profiling campaign of massive scale and devastating consequences.” It alleges that ICE officers routinely stop individuals presumed to be Somali or Latino based solely on their ethnicity, often resulting in arrests that violate federal laws and constitutional rights.
This legal action comes amid ongoing tensions, with anti-ICE protests escalating in Minneapolis, where confrontations with ICE officers have reportedly led to attacks and vandalism of federal property. Reports indicate that the Minnesota State Police have been instructed to pause their duties in the face of this unrest.
The case is registered as Hussen vs. Noem in the Federal District Court for Minnesota.
