Anoka County Board Passes Resolution To Clarify It Is Not A "Sanctuary" Jurisdiction.

Anoka County Board Passes Resolution To Clarify It Is Not A "Sanctuary" Jurisdiction.

ANOKA, Minn. — At its June 10 public meeting, the Anoka County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt Resolution #2025‑PS11, titled “Resolution Affirming the Rule of Law,” to formally state that Anoka County is not a sanctuary jurisdiction for undocumented immigrants .

🔍 The Trigger: Temporary DHS Listing

The resolution was prompted by a temporary release of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) list on May 30 that classified Anoka County—along with roughly 20 predominantly rural Minnesota counties—as a "sanctuary jurisdiction". The following day, DHS quietly pulled down the list from its website.

County attorneys and the Sheriff’s Office flagged the listing as an "inaccurate characterization", asserting the county has never enacted policies that would prevent cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

⚖️ What's in the Resolution

According to the full text, Anoka County:

• “Has never passed any ordinance, adopted any resolution, or set any policy or procedure aimed at, or resulting in, the county being a ‘sanctuary’ jurisdiction…”
• Cooperates as required by law with federal immigration officials—within Minnesota’s legal framework.
• Does not hold individuals in county jail beyond their release date solely on ICE detainers unless required by a court order or law.

👥 Officials Weigh In

A social media post by Commissioner Julie Braastad noted that the measure passed with a 6–1 vote and was intended to “clarify publicly that Anoka County is NOT a ‘sanctuary’ county”.

While the County Board did not hold a new public comment session on this specific resolution on June 10, the commitment for transparency originated earlier in the meeting cycle.

🏛️ Wider Implications

The issue echoes a broader Minnesota narrative, where cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul maintain local protections for immigrants, while rural and suburban areas are increasingly scrutinized by DHS . Minnesota remains without statewide "sanctuary" laws.

At the federal level, the DHS listing—and subsequent retraction—raises concerns. While some local officials questioned the designation’s rationale, the department did not clarify its criteria or pathways for contesting listings

📋 What It Actually Means

The resolution carries no new legal changes to county operations. Instead, it is a formal clarification, reinforcing that Anoka County officials will continue to:

• Follow Minnesota statutes limiting detention without judicial order.
• Allow lawful ICE access to inmates upon appropriate request.
• Reject informal detainer holds that do not comply with court orders.

Bottom Line: Anoka County acted swiftly to correct what it called an "erroneous" federal designation by passing a resolution to officially assert its status as non‑sanctuary, affirm its compliance with state and federal law, and maintain openness with the public.

MinneapoliMedia