Minnesota Corrections Chief Refutes DHS Claims of Non-Cooperation with ICE

Disputed Cooperation with ICE

• 🎯 Minnesota Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell vehemently denies allegations from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that state authorities are not cooperating with ICE operations.
• 💬 Schnell states that the DHS claims are "fundamentally false" and that Minnesota has a long-standing policy of cooperating with ICE detainers.

Discrepancies in Release Numbers

• ⚠️ DHS officials claimed that state officials released upwards of 400-500 "criminals" into Minnesota's streets.
• 🔍 Commissioner Schnell stated that they released 84 individuals subject to ICE detainers, a number significantly lower than the DHS's claim.
• 📊 Schnell also reported that a statewide jail survey found 207 individuals in state prisons and 94 in county jails are currently subject to ICE detainers, totaling fewer than 300.

ICE Detainer Numbers Disputed

• 📌 ICE and CBP officials stated there are over 1,360 ICE detainers statewide.
• 🚫 Commissioner Schnell's survey found this number to be inaccurate, with his data showing fewer than 300 individuals currently subject to detainers.
• 🧩 The conflicting numbers highlight a significant disagreement between state and federal agencies on the extent of cooperation and the actual data.

Understanding ICE Detainers

• 🤝 An immigration detainer is a request from ICE to law enforcement agencies, prisons, and jails to notify them before releasing an individual who is in the U.S. illegally.
• ⏳ The request asks agencies to hold the individual for up to 48 hours to allow ICE to take them into custody.