St. Paul city officials say a Public Works employee who helps keep the streets clear was picked up by federal immigration agents last week, even though the worker is legally allowed to work in the United States and holds a valid commercial driver’s license. The city is now pressing federal agencies for answers as Minnesota and its two largest cities wage a broader legal fight over recent ICE operations in the Twin Cities.
City Says Cleared Employee Was Detained
Public Works Director Sean Kershaw confirmed that an employee was detained by ICE agents, according to FOX 9. The department told the station that the worker is "legally authorized to work in the U.S." and holds a valid commercial driver’s license. City officials say they have asked federal agencies for details about how and why the stop happened.
Detention Tied To Fight Over 'Operation Metro Surge'
The incident lands squarely in the middle of a larger showdown over a federal enforcement push that local leaders say has rattled neighborhoods. In a Jan. 12 press release, the City of Saint Paul announced it had joined Attorney General Keith Ellison and the City of Minneapolis in filing a federal lawsuit to halt what officials describe as "Operation Metro Surge," according to City of Saint Paul.
State Says ICE Tactics Are Harming Minnesotans
The Minnesota Attorney General's office says the deployment "has resulted in tangible harm," pointing to reports that bystanders were detained, schools were placed on lockdown and businesses temporarily closed. The AG's filing argues that the tactics amount to constitutional violations and seeks a temporary restraining order, according to Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Snowplows And City Services In The Crosshairs
Public Works relies on employees with commercial driver’s licenses for plowing, snow removal and other winter safety work, and city officials warn that detaining municipal drivers could complicate those core services right when residents depend on them most. Saint Paul leaders say the federal deployment has fueled fear in neighborhoods and strained local resources, concerns they lay out in their court filing. For more on the department’s role, see the overview from City of Saint Paul Public Works.
Legal Stakes Keep Climbing
If the city’s account is accurate, that the worker was authorized to work and held a valid CDL, the detention sharpens the legal questions at the heart of the state and city lawsuit. Upcoming court proceedings will test whether the scope and methods of the federal deployment crossed constitutional lines and violated administrative-law standards described in the Jan. 12 filings, according to Attorney General Keith Ellison.
