Committee deadlocks on bill to bar local jails from housing people detained for civil immigration violations

Representative Sencer-mura introduced House File 3886 to prohibit local governments from entering agreements with the federal government to house people detained for civil immigration violations. Sencer-mura said the bill responds to the disruptions and community harm caused by recent federal enforcement operations and would prevent counties from renting their jails for civil immigration detention.

Hennepin County Board Chair Irene Fernando told the committee counties are not positioned to carry out civil immigration enforcement and face legal liability when they do; she cited settlements and litigation in other jurisdictions. John Bill, policy counsel with the ACLU of Minnesota, clarified the bill would not affect people detained on criminal charges but said the civil-detainer practice has led to constitutional violations, unlawful transfers and mounting settlement costs. Dr. Linus Chan, a clinical professor of law, said many people held under civil immigration custody lack criminal records and that in some jails ICE detainees accounted for more than half the facility capacity.

Supporters argued prohibiting such agreements protects local finances, public-safety priorities and trust with immigrant communities. Testimony from labor and community organizers described the chilling effect on wage-theft reporting and access to services. Opponents said better coordination with federal agencies could have reduced chaos during recent operations and warned that a statewide ban could force detainees to be transferred further from their families, increasing logistical and humanitarian harms.

The committee held a roll-call vote on the motion to refer the bill to the General Register; the clerk recorded 6 ayes and 6 nays. The motion did not prevail, so HF 3886 did not advance on that motion during this hearing.