Minnesota Senate passes bill to ban immigration agents from hiding faces

The Minnesota Senate narrowly passed a bill Monday that would restrict federal agents from concealing their identities with exceptions and create a pathway for lawsuits over alleged constitutional violations from immigration enforcement in the state.

The bill was narrowly passed by a 34-33 party-line vote. It now heads to the House of Representatives, where it faces an uphill battle with the House evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.

The legislation also instructs schools, daycares, and healthcare facilities to deny access to agents seeking to enforce civil immigration enforcement on their premises without a signed judicial warrant, with some exceptions. It also prohibits some civil immigration detentions of people who attend court hearings.

In addition, it gives state authorities the authority to investigate deaths resulting from the use of force by federal agents and creates penalties or civil liability in certain cases if a person fails to provide aid following a shooting.

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Democratic Sen. Omar Fateh, a co-sponsor of the bill, said the federal government’s raids in Minnesota represent “a show of force against immigrant communities,” according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.

“They said the agents were here to maintain law and order,” Fateh said. “They lied again. They broke down doors without a warrant, denied people due process, attacked, arrested, tear gassed, and shot at peaceful people.”

This comes as many Democratic-led states are seeking to impose restrictions on immigration agents, especially after two U.S. citizens were fatally shot in separate incidents in Minneapolis in January during immigration raids that triggered nationwide protests.

Lawmakers in New York reached an agreement with Gov. Kathy Hochul on a final state budget to limit state and local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and place restrictions on masked agents and warrantless searches of homes, schools and other locations. The agreement would also allow residents to sue immigration agents.

A mask ban has also been passed by California lawmakers, but similar restrictions have faced federal court challenges, including rulings that blocked parts of the California law.

The Minnesota bill narrowly passed by a 34-33 party-line vote. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Other Democratic-led states, including New Jersey and Massachusetts, have proposed similar plans to prevent immigration officials from wearing masks during President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigrants.

Minnesota Democratic Sen. Ron Latz, another co-sponsor of the bill passed Monday, said the measure aims to bring accountability and “make sure what happened here never happens again.”

“The period we endured was one of the darkest periods in American history, when the government sent armed, untrained and unrestrained masked men to terrorize our communities,” Latz said, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune. he said.

Republicans, meanwhile, accused Democrats of using inflammatory rhetoric about immigration raids and said Minnesota officials should cooperate with ICE.

“We need more cooperation between our federal, state and local officials in this state,” GOP Sen. Michael Kreun said, according to the outlet. “Not less cooperation, but more cooperation. This will help reduce the need for street-level enforcement, which many people are very uncomfortable with.”

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Other Democratic-led states, including New Jersey and Massachusetts, have proposed similar plans to prevent immigration officials from wearing masks during President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigrants. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

Republican Senator Glenn Gruenhagen argued that the crackdown on immigrants has made cities across the country safer; But local officials blamed the Trump administration for the violence after immigration agents shot multiple people in recent months.

Senate Republicans also said the package would cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential lawsuits because the state would likely be sued.

“This bill would put Minnesota on a collision course with dangerous illegal immigrants roaming free while federal authorities face legal challenges,” Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson said in a statement. he said.

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The legislation’s mask ban for federal agents makes some exceptions, including for medical needs.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.