MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Northern News Now) – The American Civil Liberties Union and several law firms filed a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration.
The lawsuit filed Thursday alleges federal immigration agents violated the constitutional rights of Minnesotans through racial profiling and unlawful arrests.
The suit, filed by the ACLU of Minnesota, Covington & Burling LLP, Greene Espel PLLP and Robins Kaplan LLP, challenges enforcement actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection during what officials call “Operation Metro Surge.”
The operation brought thousands of federal agents to the Twin Cities area since November.
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Attorneys say masked agents in military-style gear have stopped and detained people without warrants or probable cause, allegedly targeting Somali and Latino communities.
“People should not fear going to work, to school, to the grocery store, to the hospital, to their house of worship, or anywhere in our wonderful state. The only way to stop this is for people to stand up for their rights,” said Catherine Ahlin-Halverson, an attorney with the Minnesota ACLU.
One of the plaintiffs, 20-year-old U.S. citizen Mubashir Khalif Hussen, said he was detained by ICE agents in December while walking in Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. He said agents ignored his claims of citizenship, shackled him, and took him to a federal building before releasing him.
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The lawsuit claims the actions violate constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures and guarantee of equal protection under the law.
The ACLU hopes to have a judge assigned to the case next week, then dates will be set for a hearing.
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