Minnesota has become ground zero for the interior enforcement tactics deployed under the Trump administration’s “Metro Surge,” which poured some 3,000 federal immigration agents into the Twin Cities late last year. After two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens during raids, Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) legislators opened the 2026 session on 19 February with a slate of bills aimed at reining in federal officers.
The headline measure—the Minnesota Constitutional Remedies Act—would allow residents to sue federal agents in state court for constitutional violations, countering the federal government’s claim of “absolute immunity.” Companion bills would ban use of masks and unmarked vehicles by immigration officers, prohibit raids at schools, hospitals and childcare centres, and create civil liability for shooters who fail to render aid.
DFL Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy framed the effort as a defence of state sovereignty and public safety: “Ordinary Minnesotans have been documenting abuses; it’s time we provide legal tools to stop them.” Republicans, who control half the House, blasted the package as symbolic and potentially unconstitutional under the Supremacy Clause.
![Minnesota lawmakers push back on federal immigration surge with bills to curb masked agents and protect ‘sensitive locations’]()
Amid the heightened scrutiny of federal enforcement, foreign nationals and global mobility teams may need rapid, reliable visa guidance to keep assignments on track. VisaHQ offers an easy-to-use platform with real-time updates, digital application tools and expedited processing for U.S. and other destinations, helping companies and individuals navigate shifting requirements with confidence (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/).
Even if enactment is uncertain, the debate matters for corporations managing talent in the Upper Midwest. The presence of heavily armed federal teams has disrupted commutes, sparked community protests near office parks and prompted some assignees to request relocation. Employers should review remote-work and emergency-contact protocols and inform foreign nationals of their rights if approached by ICE.
At a national level, the bills join similar actions in Illinois and New York challenging federal immunity, setting up a possible Supreme Court test of states’ power to grant a civil cause of action against federal officers. Mobility professionals should monitor the outcome, which could influence liability exposure wherever federal raids intersect with corporate worksites.
The headline measure—the Minnesota Constitutional Remedies Act—would allow residents to sue federal agents in state court for constitutional violations, countering the federal government’s claim of “absolute immunity.” Companion bills would ban use of masks and unmarked vehicles by immigration officers, prohibit raids at schools, hospitals and childcare centres, and create civil liability for shooters who fail to render aid.
DFL Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy framed the effort as a defence of state sovereignty and public safety: “Ordinary Minnesotans have been documenting abuses; it’s time we provide legal tools to stop them.” Republicans, who control half the House, blasted the package as symbolic and potentially unconstitutional under the Supremacy Clause.
Amid the heightened scrutiny of federal enforcement, foreign nationals and global mobility teams may need rapid, reliable visa guidance to keep assignments on track. VisaHQ offers an easy-to-use platform with real-time updates, digital application tools and expedited processing for U.S. and other destinations, helping companies and individuals navigate shifting requirements with confidence (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/).
Even if enactment is uncertain, the debate matters for corporations managing talent in the Upper Midwest. The presence of heavily armed federal teams has disrupted commutes, sparked community protests near office parks and prompted some assignees to request relocation. Employers should review remote-work and emergency-contact protocols and inform foreign nationals of their rights if approached by ICE.
At a national level, the bills join similar actions in Illinois and New York challenging federal immunity, setting up a possible Supreme Court test of states’ power to grant a civil cause of action against federal officers. Mobility professionals should monitor the outcome, which could influence liability exposure wherever federal raids intersect with corporate worksites.
