Attorney General Kwame Raoul has criticized the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for what he describes as attempts to pressure Minnesota into complying with federal demands. Raoul, together with 21 other state attorneys general, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. The letter denounces the Trump administration’s use of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Minnesota as a means to compel state officials to share sensitive resident data and alter established public safety policies.
“The violence being brought upon people of Minnesota by federal CBP and ICE agents is the result of the president’s obsession with trying to force states to comply with his policies and seeking retribution against his perceived political enemies,” Raoul said. “I will stand with Minnesota and strongly denounce efforts by this administration to extort states and threaten their sovereignty.”
The coalition’s letter was issued in response to Attorney General Bondi’s January 24 correspondence with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, which called for actions such as providing Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data, changing local public safety measures, and giving federal authorities access to voter information in exchange for withdrawing federal agents from the state.
The attorneys general argue that these demands challenge the constitutional division between state and federal powers, intruding on state authority in ways they say are intended to coerce compliance from Minnesota. They note that many DOJ actions have already been blocked by courts nationwide, suggesting that the administration is now seeking outcomes it could not secure through legal channels.
Raoul stated that he and his colleagues will continue opposing what they see as unlawful interference from federal authorities: “The coalition urges the administration to end its dangerous and unlawful campaign against Minnesota immediately and stand down on its alarming demands.”
Earlier this month, Raoul filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Trump administration officials over tactics used by CBP and ICE agents in Illinois. The lawsuit outlines several instances where Illinois was allegedly pressured over policy disagreements, including withholding federal funds or attempting deployments involving National Guard units from Illinois or Texas. In September 2025, DHS deployed CBP and ICE personnel described as quasi-military forces in Illinois—a move linked by Raoul’s office to violence including a fatal shooting.
The attorneys general joining Raoul represent Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
As noted on its official website, the Illinois Attorney General serves as the state’s main legal officer—upholding laws across Illinois while advocating for vulnerable groups such as workers or immigrants. The office provides resources on issues like identity theft or internet safety; handles thousands of consumer complaints annually; works with law enforcement; promotes open government; offers services related to consumer fraud or civil rights complaints; operates offices statewide including Chicago; supports environmental protection efforts; functions as an agency for public protection; extends advocacy throughout Illinois; protects consumers; promotes safer communities; advocates for environmental causes; partners with law enforcement agencies; supports crime victims—and more.
