Minnesota Senator Proposes Temporary ICE Enforcement Pause to Ease Tensions, Restore Cooperation

(KNSI) – Minnesota State Senator Julia Coleman is calling for a temporary pause in federal immigration enforcement operations in exchange for state cooperation with ICE detainers.

In an interview on KNSI on Monday morning, the Republican Assistant Minority Leader from Waconia wants to de-escalate tensions in the Twin Cities and get a return to normalcy. “I’m on a mission here to try to make Minnesota boring again I want us to go back to being known for hockey and hot dish and not the insanity that’s been taking place.”

Coleman’s plan calls for both sides to make concessions. “My proposal is let’s take a 30 to 60 day pause on the ground game in exchange, Governor Walz and Mayor Frey, you are going to have to allow ICE to come in and take these people and operate like they do in every other state.”

The federal government would pause its controversial ground operations, while state and local officials would honor ICE detainers. Coleman emphasized that the pause would not allow targets to evade law enforcement, but rather provide a cooling-off period to establish better cooperation protocols.

She cited increasing violence from both protesters and federal agents as a primary motivation for her proposal. She stated ICE activity has been creating fear among residents. “We have seen ICE activity pretty heavily here in Chaska, Minnesota of all places. And it’s got students not going to school. It’s got people not coming to work. People are nervous. We’ve seen roadblocks where they’re checking on people and this just isn’t a way forward for Minnesotans.”

The senator indicated that any agreement could include legislative fixes to Minnesota statutes that currently complicate cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. She referenced an opinion from Attorney General Keith Ellison on existing state law as contributing to the lack of cooperation.

Coleman reported receiving significant communication from legislators on both sides of the aisle over the weekend, suggesting growing support for de-escalation efforts, even if lawmakers disagree on who bears more responsibility for the current impasse.

The senator added that she hopes discussions will soon involve the governor, mayor, attorney general, and federal administration officials, with ICE Director Tom Holman reportedly expected to arrive in Minnesota this week. The proposal comes on the heels of Saturday’s deadly ICE shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

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