Leaked Emails Show Sanctuary City Lawyers Actively Working to Thwart Deportation of Dangerous Criminals

Leaked emails between Minneapolis-area lawyers expose efforts to shield illegal immigrants from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in defiance of federal law. The messages suggest coordinated attempts to prevent ICE from apprehending defendants in sanctuary jurisdictions.

Key Facts:

Leaked emails from the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) show attorneys strategizing to help illegal immigrants avoid ICE.
Attorney General Keith Ellison issued a legal opinion the same day stating state law prohibits local law enforcement from holding individuals based solely on ICE detainers.
Lawyers advised clients to request Zoom hearings instead of appearing in court in person to evade ICE officers.
Some judges encouraged remote hearings for defendants with immigration concerns, granting them “liberally.”
Federal law (8 U.S.C. § 1324) prohibits harboring illegal immigrants, raising legal concerns over these coordinated efforts.

The Rest of The Story:

Emails from the MACDL listserv indicate that lawyers were actively working to prevent ICE from detaining illegal immigrant defendants at courthouses.

One attorney suggested requesting Zoom hearings under false pretenses, such as claiming interpreter issues.

Others encouraged remote appearances to avoid alerting ICE agents.

Some judges in Minnesota’s Third Judicial District reportedly supported these efforts, preemptively offering virtual hearings for cases involving immigration concerns.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also expressed interest in taking legal action against officials cooperating with ICE detainers.

Federal law makes it a crime to shield illegal immigrants from detection, and past cases, such as that of Massachusetts Judge Shelley Joseph, show that legal repercussions can follow such actions.

However, no charges have been filed against the attorneys involved in these emails.

Sanctuary city lawyers plot to help illegal migrants evade ICE in exposed group email https://t.co/1d3mhiCjhp

— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 17, 2025

Commentary:

These emails expose a deliberate effort by attorneys, judges, and activists to subvert federal immigration enforcement.

Instead of upholding the law, they appear to be aiding illegal immigrants in avoiding deportation, effectively turning Minnesota’s legal system into a tool for obstruction.

Lawyers who engage in such practices should be held accountable.

Conspiring to defy federal immigration laws is not legal advocacy; it is an attempt to undermine the rule of law.

Federal prosecutors should investigate whether these attorneys violated 8 U.S.C. § 1324, which prohibits harboring illegal aliens.

Sanctuary policies have emboldened local officials to ignore federal law, putting American citizens at risk.

Dangerous criminals who should be deported remain in the country due to legal maneuvers like these.

The fact that some judges are willing to participate in this scheme only further erodes public trust in the judicial system.

Beyond legal action, Congress should take steps to defund sanctuary jurisdictions.

Federal funding should not be used to bankroll cities and states that refuse to enforce immigration laws.

If local officials choose to defy federal mandates, they should do so without taxpayer dollars.

The Bottom Line:

The leaked emails provide clear evidence of a coordinated effort to shield illegal immigrants from ICE enforcement.

This not only obstructs federal law but also jeopardizes public safety.

Those responsible should face legal and professional consequences, and sanctuary jurisdictions should lose federal funding until they comply with immigration laws.