Virtual File - Item

Text: February 20, 2024
Governor Tim Walz
130 State Capitol
75 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
Dear Governor Walz:
We are writing to you to express our deep concerns over S.F. 2724, the North STAR Act, which
was recently introduced in the state legislature. As you are aware, this misguided legislation
would prohibit state and local institutions from working with the United States Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE), the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the
United States Marshals Service, the United States Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), and any
other immigration enforcement agency.
This legislation, which does nothing to help the citizens of Minnesota and is devoid of common
sense, ignores the ongoing crisis at our southern border that is plaguing our nation. It will
encourage more illegal immigration, which has already reached record highs under the Biden
Administration.123
Some of us recently traveled to Cochise County, Arizona, to see this crisis firsthand and hear
from those most directly impacted. After listening to law enforcement at the border, local elected
officials, and local farmers, it is clear Minnesota cannot afford to aid and abet the invasion at our
southern border.
The border patrol agents we spoke with highlighted the effectiveness of Trump-era immigration
policies, like Remain in Mexico, and detailed how President Biden's elimination of former
President Trump's policies not only caused this spike in illegal immigration but also put the
safety of the communities they swore to protect at risk. Most notably, the local sheriff remarked
that this crisis is not a migrant crisis but rather an organized crime crisis. Each illegal immigrant
pays the cartel anywhere from $8,000-$10,000 to cross the border. Once in the United States,
they are required to pay the cartels a large percentage of their income in perpetuity.4 Legislation
1 Nationwide Encounters | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
2 Southwest Land Border Encounters | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
3 Biden admin may have lost track of millions of migrants crossing southern border: congressional report
4 House Natural Resources Committee Federal Lands Subcommittee Hearing: Biden's Border Crisis: The
Consequences of Failing to Secure Federal Border Lands Testimony Jim Chilton
like the North STAR Act would bring contemporary indentured servitude to our backyard while
enriching the cartels. Furthermore, prevalent cartel crimes, predominantly human and drug
smuggling, are already putting countless Minnesotans in danger. This would get far worse should
Minnesota become a "Sanctuary State."
The North STAR Act would bring human trafficking to our front door. The Biden Administration
has already lost over 85,000 unaccompanied minors who have entered the United States.
5
"Sanctuary" status would make Minnesota a safe haven for cartel smugglers who profit from the
sale of these children. Minnesotans do not want their state to become the end destination for
kidnapped children. However, we understand that your views may differ.
Moreover, the "Sanctuary City/State" experiment has proven to be an utter failure. These states
and municipalities have become overrun with illegal immigrants and have used public schools,
recreation centers, and parks to shelter these individuals.678910 Now, residents in certain parts of
the country are being asked to shelter illegal immigrants in their homes.11 We would like to
remind you of the terrorist recently caught in Minneapolis who entered our country illegally
through the southern border.
12 Minnesotans do not need more crime and unknown terrorists in
their towns and cities.
This experiment is also costly and dangerous; "Sanctuary" status costs taxpayers billions of
dollars.13 Minnesota is already one of the highest-taxed states in the nation. We advise you
against increasing the economic stress of the citizenry by gifting their hard-earned tax dollars to
illegal immigrants. Furthermore, this crisis has already endangered Minnesotans. You may
remember the 11-year-old sexually assaulted in Bemidji in a home with 11 illegal immigrants
present this past fall.14 Taxpayer funds should be used to support Minnesotans, not criminals and
cop-beaters.15
In closing, we strongly encourage you to reconsider your priorities. Your leadership has clearly
signaled to Minnesotans that their needs are secondary to those who enter this country illegally.
1617 Still, it is not too late to stop President Biden's border crisis from causing greater harm to our
5 Chairman Green: We Must Address the "Tragedy and Trauma" Caused by the Biden-Mayorkas Border Crisis -
Committee on Homeland Security
6 New York City turns to school gyms to house new migrants, prompting uproar
7 Parents outraged booted NYC students 'used' by City Hall in out-of-control migrant crisis
8 Chicago is keeping hundreds of migrants at airports while waiting on shelters and tents
9 Massachusetts turns recreational plex into shelter for homeless families, including migrants
10 Adams prepares to open migrant housing in Brooklyn park
11 Massachusetts turns recreational plex into shelter for homeless families, including migrants
12 Terrorist who crossed border allowed to roam US for nearly a year, arrested only after ICE 'became aware'
13 Shocking Cost of the Illegal Immigration Crisis to Americans
14 'Where's the outrage?': Family of 11-year-old Bemidji girl who was allegedly gang raped wants answers,
action
15 Here's how a mob of illegal immigrants can maul cops in New York City and get away with it
16 Minnesota to provide free college tuition to undocumented students
17 Governor Walz Signs Bill Expanding Access to Driver's Licenses
state. The North STAR Act would be an unmitigated disaster for Minnesotans. Please work for
the betterment of our once great state and its citizens, not for President Biden's failed border
policies.
Sincerely,
Pete Stauber
Member of Congress
Brad Finstad
Member of Congress
Michelle Fischbach
Member of Congress
Tom Emmer
Member of Congress
cc: Speaker Melissa Hortman
Majority Leader Erin Murphy