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(NewsNation) — The Department of Homeland Security is deploying additional federal agents to Minnesota to protect immigration enforcement officers facing what officials describe as coordinated violent attacks, a top DHS official said Monday.
Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary, told NewsNation that the surge of agents — already numbering 2,400 with hundreds more expected — is necessary because Minneapolis’ sanctuary city policies prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with or protecting federal officers conducting immigration operations.
“What we’ve been seeing is a highly coordinated campaign of violence against our law enforcement officers,” McLaughlin told NewsNation, citing what she said were 10 vehicle rammings in one week and an increase in assaults against agents.
The deployment comes as Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a lawsuit against DHS to halt what he called an “unlawful, unprecedented surge” of federal agents into the state.
McLaughlin defended the operation, saying DHS has arrested more than 2,000 people in Minneapolis over five weeks, with 70% having either pending criminal charges or prior convictions. She said arrests have included a murderer from Ecuador, child predators and a kidnapper.
When asked why the administration doesn’t pursue legal action against sanctuary cities rather than deploying more agents, she noted concerns about citizens being detained and the lack of local law enforcement coordination creating dangerous situations.
McLaughlin said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has released 470 people from local jails, including those charged with murder and rape, necessitating federal intervention. She said agents use reasonable suspicion protected by the Fourth Amendment and only arrest citizens who obstruct or assault officers.