Senate Democrats today passed a bill that would create safe harbor for illegal immigrants in Minnesota and attract the most dangerous criminals to the state. The highly partisan measure is likely unconstitutional and has no path to becoming law.

“Minnesotans expect cooperation, coordination and smart immigration enforcement” Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, said. “Instead, Democrats proposed measures that make enforcement more difficult and far more dangerous. What happened this winter resulted from Minnesota’s sanctuary policies that banned and discouraged cooperation and political leaders focused more on making statements than making a difference. This bill will put Minnesota on a collision course with dangerous illegal immigrants who roam freely while federal authorities face legal challenges.”

The bill includes several controversial and unenforceable provisions:

• It bans law enforcement officers from wearing masks, exposing their identities to doxxing and targeting by extremists.
• It makes schools and colleges a safe harbor location for illegal immigrants and prevents employees from voluntarily consenting to immigration searches by law enforcement.
• It requires law enforcement officers or witnesses to render aid to injured people even at personal risk or face civil lawsuits from the victim. Current law already requires aid but does not expose individuals to personal lawsuits.

Republicans offered an amendment that stripped the controversial provisions and instead emphasized cooperation while protecting constitutional rights. The amendment would move immigration enforcement from streets and businesses into courts, jails, prisons and coordinated locations.

“What we saw this winter was chaos and confusion that led to the loss of two lives and eroded public trust,” Sen. Michael Kreun, R-Blaine, said. “The solution is not more sanctuary policies and divisiveness. The solution is cooperation between our federal, state, and local officials. We need coordinated immigration enforcement that protects the public, law enforcement officers, and both legal and illegal immigrants from risky and disruptive activity. Immigration law needs to be enforced in a professional, efficient, collaborative and constitutional manner.”

The Republican proposal would:

• Require 287(g) agreements between local law enforcement and federal authorities to coordinate efforts and keep illegal immigrants off the streets, where enforcement carries higher risk.
• Bans sanctuary cities and counties that prevent cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
• Establish a 25-foot buffer zone around immigration enforcement activities to prevent protester interference and reduce risk to the public.
• Allow residents, businesses and organizations to voluntarily participate with immigration law enforcement partners.

Democrats rejected most of these commonsense changes. They did accept a change to remove the 1,000-foot sanctuary zone around courthouses after it was pointed out that in many areas that large of an area would make homes and businesses sanctuary places without the owners’ consent.

The final vote on the bill was 34-33 along party lines. The measure is not expected to receive a vote in the tied House before the legislative session adjourns in less than a week.