Now what?
With less than a week left in the Minnesota legislative session, that’s the prevailing question for those who have been tracking lawmakers’ response to Operation Metro Surge.
That’s because on Monday, the Senate passed a bill that effectively serves as the last major effort by DFL lawmakers in response to the aggressive tactics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents this past winter. But the House appears unwilling to vote on it, and efforts to pass related legislation appear dim at best.
Related: You say ICE, I say fraud: Senate debate over bill to help businesses hurt by ICE enforcement fell into a predictable pattern
The Senate bill – passed 34-33 on a party line vote — absorbed standalone proposals that constitute the DFL’s key priorities regarding the ICE enforcement.
The bill would simplify the process for suing federal agents over alleged illegal conduct, as well as limit agents’ ability to conceal their identities in public and access sensitive spaces like schools, hospitals, courthouses and childcare centers.
DFL lawmakers described the bill as a tool needed to hold federal agents accountable and prevent their ability to violate the U.S. Constitution.
The Senate GOP caucus, however, criticized the bill after the vote, saying it “would create safe harbor for illegal immigrants in Minnesota and attract the most dangerous criminals to the state.” And the House is evenly split 67-67 among DFLers and Republicans, making a vote on the partisan bill in that chamber unlikely.
Sunday is the deadline to pass any bills into law.
So without that bill getting a vote in the House, it’s only behind-the-scenes negotiations or votes on other bills that could lead any proposed legislation on ICE accountability to becoming law.
At least as of mid-week, that also appears unlikely.
Related: In passing assault weapons ban, Minnesota Senate DFL shows unified front
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the House GOP Caucus confirmed that she did not know of any other bills related to ICE that could get a vote this week, or of any negotiations taking place.
Rep. Athena Hollins, DFL-St. Paul and sponsor of the House companion ICE bill, also said that to the best of her knowledge there are no behind-the-scenes negotiations slated that could mean an ICE-related bill becomes law.
The Senate bill that has already passed, she said, won’t get a vote because GOP leadership in the House are “just not interested in having conversations around ICE.”
She thinks GOP lawmakers are afraid to take a position that challenges President Donald Trump. “I’m really disappointed that we are not even allowed to have the conversation on the House floor,” she said.
Related
