Trump Administration Does not Consider Rochester, Olmsted County as Sanctuary Jurisdictions

Washington, D.C. (KROC-AM News)- 20 Minnesota counties and two of the state’s cities are considered sanctuary jurisdictions by the Trump Administration. 

See Also: Motorist Rescued from Submerged Vehicle in Lake Pepin 

That’s according to a list published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 

The list is the result of an executive order mandating the publishing of jurisdictions the administration says “obstruct the enforcement of Federal immigration laws.” 

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20 Minnesota Counties, Two Minnesota Cities Considered Sanctuary Jurisdictions by Trump Administration

The City of Rochester and Olmsted County are not included on the Trump Administration's list. 

There have been at least two reported incidents of immigration enforcement activity in Rochester this year. In February, two employees at Nupa Restaurant were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. 

Read More: Update from Nupa, Rochester Restaurant Impacted by ICE 

Last week, ICE agents were at the Olmsted County Government Center.

Local law enforcement escorted the agents through the building’s public areas, which is the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office’s standard procedure for non-local law enforcement agencies. 

Read More: Multiple ICE Agents Reported at Olmsted County Courthouse 

The federal agency has not responded to requests for comment from KROC News regarding their activities in Rochester. 

The administration says it labels a jurisdiction a sanctuary based on “compliance with federal law enforcement, information restrictions, and legal protections for illegal aliens.”

The jurisdictions have received formal notification of their status and a demand for compliance, DHS says. 

The list does include Goodhue and Steele Counties. Also included are Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka and Carver Counties. 

Counties in central and southwestern Minnesota are also on the list. The only two Minnesota cities listed are Minneapolis and St. Paul. 

The Department of Homeland Security also says Minnesota is a self-identified state sanctuary jurisdiction.