DHS accused of denying religious care to Minnesota ICE detainees
By Mike Moen – Producer /Minnesota News Connection
Despite the ongoing drawdown of federal agents, legal advocates in Minnesota say the immigration crackdown in the state exposes constitutional rights violations at a main detention center.
A lawsuit filed on February 23rd deals with faith leaders being denied entry.
The public interest law firm Groundwork Legal is part of the case accusing the Trump administration of unlawfully barring faith leaders from providing spiritual and moral support to people held at the Whipple Federal Building.
It follows separate legal action arguing the Department of Homeland Security was denying access to legal counsel in regional detention centers.
Irina Vaynerman, civil rights lawyer and CEO of Groundwork Legal, says detainees are not treated with humanity.
“The right to counsel, the right to receive and provide pastoral care under the First Amendment – all of those rights – they don’t disappear at the doors of the Whipple,” Vaynerman points out.
“The Whipple cannot be a black box.”
The plaintiffs say one of the more recent incidents occurred on Ash Wednesday, when faith leaders were denied entry.
The lawsuit contends the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act aids their argument that First Amendment rights are being violated.
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment.
The Trump administration announced on February 12th that the controversial immigration operation in Minnesota would conclude, with officers moving out of the state in piecemeal fashion.
Vaynerman notes, in the meantime, arrests are still happening, and the legal action they are taking will still be relevant in the foreseeable future.
“What’s at stake here, of course, is absolutely instrumental in this moment in time,” Vaynerman stresses.
“But must extend even beyond Operation Metro Surge, because the Whipple building continues to be used by the federal government.”
The lawsuit asks the court to grant immediate relief so pastoral care can get underway at Whipple.
The plaintiffs point to a recent ruling in Illinois, where a federal judge ordered ICE to allow faith leaders to give Communion to detained immigrants on Ash Wednesday.