Amid brewing intensity and uncertainty in the federal government, Minnesota has shown itself to be one of the safest sanctuary states. Minnesota is one of 17 states in the United States that are classified as sanctuary states, however, each state has its own definition of what a sanctuary state actually is.

The American Immigration Council defines a sanctuary state as a “state or locality that has policies limiting the cooperation of federal immigration authorities.” Sanctuary states generally limit their cooperation with federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They commonly limit the sharing of information with the same authorities and many jurisdictions will not hold individuals in local custody at the request of immigration agents without a judicial warrant.

Sanctuary states do not block immigration law enforcement, nor do they provide immunity to undocumented people in the United States. Rather, they limit the federal government’s involvement in these affairs, allowing for a stable relationship between people and enforcement and improving the overall well-being of the community.

Minnesota has also shown empathy in other situations in the past, as the state itself has been very accepting of displaced individuals, such as Hmong and Somali refugees, many of whom escaped conflict. This has allowed Minnesota to be very diverse and accepting of other people who are coming from different backgrounds. Minnesota continues this way of living in its stance on federal immigration.

It is very important to understand that just because Minnesota is a sanctuary state does not mean it supports unauthorized immigrants. Rather, it offers them protection, for example, if they were to report a crime, they will not be arrested for being unauthorized. This has allowed Minnesota to be a place of refuge and it has become a safer state that builds a stronger communal bond between everyone who lives here.