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Anoka County commissioners adopt resolution saying county is not a ‘sanctuary’ jurisdiction
Summary
The Anoka County Board on a 6-1 vote adopted Resolution 2025 PS 11, titled “affirming the rule of law,” to state that the county has not adopted policies making it a sanctuary jurisdiction and to push back on a Department of Homeland Security list that briefly identified the county as one.
Anoka County commissioners voted 6-1 to adopt Resolution 2025 PS 11, a statement “affirming the rule of law” that says Anoka County "is not a sanctuary for undocumented people within The United States" and that county officials "reaffirm their oath to discharge faithfully the duties of their offices." The motion was offered by Commissioner Breasted and passed after public discussion and staff remarks.
The resolution was offered to correct what county officials described as erroneous public listings and misinformation. County Administrator Jim Dickinson told the board that on May 30 the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a list that identified Anoka County as a sanctuary jurisdiction; Dickinson said the list was taken down within days and may be reissued, prompting the county to set the record straight. "We believe this is an identifier to really set the record for state straight of who Anoka County is," Dickinson said.
County Attorney Johnson told the board the phrase "sanctuary jurisdiction" has no established legal definition in federal or state law and said Anoka County has never "passed any ordinance, adopted any resolution, or set any policy or procedure aimed at or resulting in the county being a sanctuary jurisdiction for undocumented immigrants." He called the DHS listing "erroneous" and supported the resolution as a factual clarification: "It is just inaccurate to describe the county as otherwise."
Sheriff Brad Wise also addressed the board, saying the resolution "is a statement of fact" and not a policy change. "They do their jobs very well. They frankly don't need local law enforcement's help to do their job," Wise said of federal immigration authorities, adding that the county will continue to "follow the law just as we always have." He said in his 30 years in local law enforcement he has not been asked by ICE to provide assistance in removals.
Several commissioners framed the resolution as aimed at protecting county operations and staff from potential federal funding consequences. Commissioner Jepsen said the resolution was "in support of our staff in the county attorney's office as well as the sheriff's department" and noted "there is some potential funding issues that we might have." Commissioner Heinrich said the action is about "public awareness" and "setting the record straight." Commissioner Meissner said she would not support the resolution, calling it politically driven and unnecessary, and said the board in 2021 committed to avoiding actions like this; Meissner said, "I will not be supporting this resolution for basically the foundational reason of that this is politically driven."
The resolution text cites county officials' sworn oaths to support the U.S. and Minnesota constitutions, notes the reservation of powers to states, and states that Anoka County "respects the rule of law, the rights of individuals and every day they seek to carry out the county's responsibilities for protecting and serving the people in Anoka County within the law." The document directs that the resolution be posted on the county bulletin board and that copies be forwarded to county departments and the Association of Minnesota Counties.
The vote on the resolution was 6 in favor, 1 opposed; Commissioner Meissner recorded the lone opposing vote. No amendments were offered during the board discussion.
Why it matters: County leaders said the resolution is intended to correct a federal listing that could lead to confusion or potential funding impacts and to publicly reaffirm that Anoka County follows federal and state law.
Looking ahead: The resolution will be posted in the county's official postings and distributed to county departments and the Association of Minnesota Counties as directed in the resolution text.
