Resources from Minnesota Deputy Attorney General

Accola staff and many community members attended an open conversation Circle at Carondelet Village. The recent increase in ICE activity in Minnesota has prompted many Minnesotans to ask: what is the State of Minnesota doing to protect immigrants living in our state?  Minnesota Deputy Attorney General John Keller addressed pressing concerns many of us have about ICE. He shared resources on how to interact with ICE, and answered questions from attendees, including those about protecting children and families.   Resources are linked at the bottom. Here are some key takeaways:   General Principles: 

• Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility; schools and organizations cannot be compelled to assist. 

• Minnesota law and FERPA protect student privacy. Schools must safeguard personal information. 

• Do not share student information unless legally required; addresses and contact details are never “directory info.” 

• ICE’s previous “sensitive locations” policy was rescinded—no automatic protections for schools, hospitals, shelters, or places of worship. 

• ICE can enter public spaces freely without permission, but non-public areas require consent or a court-issued warrant (also known as a judicial warrant) or subpoena. 

  • Judicial Warrants are documents issued by a judicial court and signed by a federal or state judge or magistrate.  

    • To be valid, the judicial warrant must:  

      • be signed by a US district court or a state court judge;  

      • describe the location to be searched and/or the persons or items to be seized; and  

      • be dated and issued within the past 14 days. 

  • Schools and Businesses are not required to comply with administrative warrants. Administrative warrants are not from a court and do NOT allow ICE to enter non-public areas without permission. 

    • Common examples of administrative warrants used by ICE include: Form I-200 (Warrant for the Arrest of Alien) and Form I-138 (Administrative Subpoena). 

  • A quick way to tell the difference between an administrative warrant and a judicial warrant: 

    •  Examine the top of the document and who signed the document. The top of a judicial warrant will have the word “court” on it and will be signed by someone with the title of “judge.”  

    • The top of an administrative warrant will have the words “Immigration and Customs Enforcement” and will not be signed by a judge but instead will be signed by an immigration “officer” or “official.”  
      

For Educators:  

• Schools must provide education to all students regardless of immigration status. 

• Do not share student information unless legally required; addresses and contact details are never “directory info.” 

• Administrative ICE warrants do not require compliance; only judicial warrants do. 

• Recommended actions:  

  • Create clear protocols for ICE interactions. 

  • Train staff on rights and procedures. 

  • Inform families about privacy protections and emergency plans.   

For Organizations: 

• ICE may visit for work authorization checks or enforcement. 

• Public vs. non-public spaces:  

  • Public areas (lobbies, worship spaces) – ICE can enter freely. 

  • Non-public areas (offices, patient rooms) – need permission or judicial warrant. 

• Recommended actions:  

  • Organizations should clearly mark which areas are not for the public and ensure that access to non-public areas is restricted. 

  • Designate a specific staff person responsible for interacting with ICE agents. 

  • If an ICE agent requests access to a private area, the staff person has the right to document: 

    • the agent’s name 

    • ID number 

    • name of the agency 

    • Ask whether the agent has a warrant and to request to inspect a warrant to determine whether it is a judicial or administrative warrant. 

• Audio or video recording by organization staff of any interaction with ICE is allowed. 

• Providing false information to ICE agents is illegal and can result in severe penalties, including criminal charges.  

Accola remains steadfast in our mission to boldly welcome neighbors, cultivate community, and foster justice. Now, more than ever, we affirm our call to be good neighbors—showing up with courage, care, and an unwavering commitment to justice. 

Thank you for standing with us to create communities where every person feels supported.  

Sources:  Immigration Enforcement Guidance for Educators: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2025/docs/ImmigrationEnforcement_GuidanceForEducators.pdf 

Know Your Rights with ICE: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Brochures/pubKnowYourRightsWithICE.pdf 

Guidance on ICE Enforcement in Sensitive Locations: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2025/docs/PublicGuidance_ICE_SensitiveLocations.pdf