Last week, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlently introduced a policy that aims to enforce immigration laws more stringently as well as harsher state action against undocumented immigrants.  The Twin Cities Daily Planet reports that Gov. Pawlently announced that he plans to strengthen enforcement by ordering Minnesota law enforcement officials to work closely with the ICE to enforce immigration laws.  He also said that he would ask the state legislature to pass an immigration package that would include prohibition of city ordinances that limit local officials’ inquiries about immigration status.   

The hard-line approach has been met with large amounts of criticism from the state’s advocacy groups and legislators. Robin Phillips, Executive Director of Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights said, "The Governor’s actions stand to damage community policing efforts, create significant fear in immigrant communities, and prevent victims from coming forwards.  If one victim of domestic violence is too afraid to call, it could mean her life.  We take this matter very seriously.  The Minnesota Democratic Party characterized Pawlenty’s plan as a "go nowhere proposal," likening it to a substantially identical proposal he made in January 2006.  Phillips points out that representatives from the Sheriff’s Association, the Police and Peace Officers Association, labor, business, and community organizations all testified against the proposed legislation in 2006.  

"It appears to me that the Governor only worries about immigration during election years," said state Senator Patricia Torres Ray.  Torres Ray pointed out that immigration is the responsibility of the federal government, and that state aid for local police and fire departments has been cut.  "At a time when our bridges are collapsing, homeowners are struggling, Minnesota’s economy is stalled and people are worried about economic future, the Governor, again, is trying to grab another headline and distract us from his record of failure," said Torres Ray.  

The full text of Governor Pawlenty’s Executive Order can be found online at: http://www.governor.state.mn.us/mediacenter/pressreleases/PROD008597.html.