The Minnesota Star Tribune noticed something today,
More Minnesota counties are partnering with ICE
Of course, in the Star Tribune‘s telling, the cooperation is motivated purely by greed for federal money, not out of any principle or national loyalty. Keep in mind that all 87 counties have elected sheriffs. Most Minnesota counties are located in conservative (red) areas of the state.
The Star Tribune writes,
President Donald Trump’s push for mass deportations could mean more money for Minnesota counties that partner with federal immigration officials.
Sherburne, Kandiyohi and Freeborn counties all have long-standing contracts to hold detainees for federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Those agreements provide millions of dollars annually to help cover the costs of jail operations and renovations.
Officially, Minnesota is considered a “sanctuary state” for illegal aliens, but individual counties are not obligated to follow the party line.
They add,
Since Trump took office again, seven rural Minnesota counties, including two with jail contracts, have signed agreements to partner with ICE. The deals include incentives like salary reimbursements and bonuses for departments that help arrest immigrants and “defend the homeland.”
Notice the scare quotes at the end. The Star Tribune cannot imagine a motivation other than greed and certainly not patriotism.
These agreements weren’t available under Pres. Biden and were not needed under Trump 1.0. The Star Tribune quotes our own David Zimmer on this very point,
“I don’t believe they are in it for the money,” Dave Zimmer, a retired Hennepin County sheriff’s deputy, now at the Center of the American Experiment, said of sheriffs who work with ICE. “I think it is more of a philosophical decision. They’re behind the efforts to shore up our failing immigration system.”
The list of cooperating counties, as collected by the Star Tribune,
Seven of Minnesota’s 87 county sheriffs have signed on to help ICE: Cass, Crow Wing, Freeborn, Itasca, Jackson, Kandiyohi and Mille Lacs.
Readers will be familiar with my “Minnesota Man” series, where I document illegal aliens being prosecuted for federal felonies. I’m up to 79 such cases filed since Trump returned to office back in January. This surge in immigration-related criminal prosecutions has led a surge in overall activity with the U.S. Attorney’s office for Minnesota. In the 12 months of last year, the U.S. Attorney filed 344 criminal cases. In the first nine months of 2025, the office has filed 368.
In every single one of the 79 instances, some other criminal activity was involved, unrelated to the defendant’s immigration status. The Star Tribune quotes one cooperating sheriff,
I want my guys to have all the tools they need. If we are dealing with [immigrants], there’s a criminal justice reason. We are not out there hunting them.
Estimates vary, but there are somewhere around 100,000 illegal immigrants in Minnesota. County and federal authorities have their hands full dealing just with those who pop up on the criminal justice radar.
Meanwhile, five (5) “Minnesota Men” are scheduled for federal court appearances next week.
