FILE - Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file)
(KFGO) – The North Dakota Sheriff’s and Deputies Association says claims by the federal government that several North Dakota Counties are actively defying federal immigration laws are completely unfounded.
Thursday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem released a list of counties and cities nationwide that she says are sanctuary communities that do not cooperate with immigration authorities. That includes seven North Dakota counties- Billings, Golden Valley, Grant, Morton, Ramsey, Sioux, and Slope Counties.
The NDSDA says the sheriffs in the those counties object to Noem claiming they actively obstruct the enforcement of immigration laws. The association says these sheriffs have not been contacted by the Department of Homeland Security, or been told how to correct the alleged violations.
A spokesperson for the NDSDA says the “North Dakota counties strongly believe that this is misinformation and a mischaracterization of how they uphold the rule of law in North Dakota. They have worked well with their federal partners and routinely interact with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as the U.S. Border Patrol on immigration and other criminal matters.”
20 Minnesota counties have also been labeled by Noem as “deliberately obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws and endangering American citizens.” The cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are also labeled as “sanctuary cities.” Noem classified the entire state of Minnesota as “Self-Identification as a State Sanctuary Jurisdiction.” Gov. Tim Walz has not declared Minnesota a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants, but has expressed support for policies that limit state and local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities in certain situations.
Anoka County, Carver County, Cottonwood County, Goodhue County, Hennepin County, Le Sueur County, Lincoln County, Lyon County, Martin County, Nicollet County, Nobles County, Otter Tail County, Pipestone County, Ramsey County, Scott County, Stearns County, Steele County, Todd County, Watonwan County, and Wright County are all accused of violating immigration laws.
No counties or cities in South Dakota were labeled by Noem as defying federal law. Noem is the former governor of the state. South Dakota is just one of 15 states she says do not have any communities that defy immigration laws.
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