Stearns County has recently been included in a newly released list of “sanctuary jurisdictions” as part of a nationwide directive under Executive Order 14287: Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens. The list included cities, counties and states that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims are “deliberately obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws”.
The County was not notified prior to the list’s release and has not received any formal explanation for its inclusion. Stearns County has not been identified on any prior sanctuary jurisdiction lists and has not made any changes to its practices, policies, or procedures regarding immigration enforcement. The County has always cooperated – and continues to cooperate – with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and believes it remains fully compliant with all laws, including federal immigration laws and detainer processes.
“We were surprised to see Stearns County on this list,” said Sheriff Steve Soyka. “Stearns County has maintained a clear and consistent approach to working and communicating with ICE and following federal requirements. What we currently do in our jail is what we have done for the past 20 years with no issues. We have always notified ICE when required. We have not received any complaints or heard of any issues from local ICE officials – in fact, during their last visit, they complimented our staff on how we handle these matters.”
At this time, Stearns County has not received any formal notification from DHS explaining the reasons for its designation. Until further information is provided, the County will continue operating under its current procedures, which have historically been in alignment with ICE expectations.
“Our responsibility is to enforce the law and support public safety,” Sheriff Soyka added. “If DHS has identified a concern, we are open to reviewing it – but as of now, we have no indication of noncompliance, and we stand by our current practices.”
Stearns County awaits additional details from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.