Minnesota and Illinois invoke the 10th amendment in lawsuits to block federal agents in their cities. Here’s why that matters
CNN • • nation
Key Points:
- Minnesota and Illinois filed separate lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s surge of ICE and Border Patrol agents, citing the 10th Amendment as a violation of state sovereignty and federal overreach.
- The states argue that the federal immigration enforcement interferes with their ability to govern locally and protect residents, claiming the actions are punitive and meant to coerce state compliance with federal policies.
- Legal experts note this approach is novel, as the 10th Amendment traditionally protects states’ rights against federal intrusion, but courts have rarely been asked to block federal immigration enforcement on this basis.
- The lawsuits highlight a reversal of typical states’ rights arguments, with states now accusing the federal government of targeting them for protecting vulnerable populations, raising new constitutional questions about federalism.
