Hennepin County Sheriff Dewanna Witt could face federal charges if she continues obstructing ICE agents from having access to inmates in the Hennepin County Jail. The move comes after Hennepin County, home to Minneapolis, has been a target for ICE enforcement as Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey turned the city into a sanctuary for illegal aliens
ICE said Sheriff Witt is blocking access unless they obtain a judicial warrant, which is not required to detain and deport illegal aliens.
Sheriff Witt could face federal prosecution for not granting ICE agents broad access to inmates held in Hennepin County Jail. https://t.co/UDs17jZUBF
— FOX 9 (@FOX9) August 6, 2026
The New York Times reports that federal authorities sent letters threatening to charge Hennepin County Sheriff Dewanna Witt with witness tampering.
A similar threat was reportedly made to the Cook County Sheriff in Illinois, where Chicago and the largest jail in the Midwest is located.
The Hennepin County Sheriff Department's longstanding policy is to honor ice requests to take custody of inmates only if it is accompanied by a judicial warrant.
Witt remains defiant, saying she will continue to "uphold the law" and block ICE.
Hennepin County, MN: "Federal officials have warned Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt that failure to provide immigration agents access to inmates eligible for deportation could result in criminal charges"https://t.co/XdVDhlyzVD pic.twitter.com/WKDCLl1VPF
— Illegal Alien Crimes (@ImmigrantCrimes) August 6, 2026
Rep. Angie Craig tried defending Witt.
The Trump Admin is threatening Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt with criminal charges for refusing to enable ICE’s cruel agenda.
— Angie Craig (@RepAngieCraig) August 6, 2026
Sheriff Witt made an oath to keep our communities safe — something ICE could learn a thing or two about. This is another baseless political…
It did not go well for Craig.
So she refused to cooperate with federal law enforcement?
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) August 7, 2026
Yes. That's a crime.
So, she is aiding and abetting foreign criminals in our country is what you are saying.
— Tired of being politically correct (@USBornNRaised) August 7, 2026
Bingo.
Tim Walz went so far as to pardon a man convicted of sexually abusing a child to protect him from deportation, although Secretary of State Marco Rubio made sure to remove that monster from our country. We voted for deportations and the enforcement of our immigration laws.