Cedrick Frazier’s Plan to Prosecute ICE

Our community will never forget what we witnessed during Operation Metro Surge: the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis, the kidnappings of our neighbors, and the reckless brutality of Trump’s masked agents. These actions shook our state and raised urgent questions about accountability.

We deserve a County Attorney with clear priorities, and a real plan for accountability. Here is how I will get it done:

There is no absolute immunity for federal agents, regardless of what JD Vance has said. The County Attorney has the legal authority to charge and prosecute federal agents who commit crimes in our county. Our current County Attorney, who will retire later this year, has set an important precedent by entering into a formal partnership with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the Minnesota Attorney General to investigate and prosecute these cases. One critical part of this agreement that cannot be overlooked is that it preserves the County Attorney’s right to withdraw from the partnership at any time. If such a withdrawal occurs, the Attorney General would be unable to proceed with prosecution independently, as they lack jurisdiction without the County Attorney’s consent.

Litigation takes time, meaning the trials of these federal agents would occur after this year’s election, placing the choice of accountability squarely in the hands of the next County Attorney, who will decide how—or whether—to proceed. This work toward transparency and accountability cannot—and must not—end with this year’s election.

As your next County Attorney, I will prosecute Trump’s federal agents who have violated Minnesota law. And I refuse to wait until after the election to begin laying the groundwork to secure justice in these cases. As a State Representative, I am actively working with Attorney General Keith Ellison and BCA leadership to author and advance legislation that will add additional investigators to the BCA, ensuring these cases receive the attention they deserve and are ready for trial.

Looking forward, here is how I will approach these cases as County Attorney:

First, my administration will conduct independent local investigations whenever a federal operation results in death, serious injury, or any credible allegations of illegal activity. We will leverage investigators from the County Attorney’s Office to supplement the work of the BCA and local law enforcement when necessary.

Second, my administration will use every legal and political mechanism available to obtain evidence from federal agencies. If those agencies refuse to cooperate, we will challenge that obstruction in court through lawsuits. We will also work closely with my allies, Congresswoman Kelly Morrison and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, to seek congressional subpoenas compelling these agencies to comply with our evidentiary demands. If the Trump administration continues to obstruct, Congress can invoke their inherent contempt power, directing the House Sergeant at Arms to detain individuals who refuse to comply with subpoenas.

Third, my administration will carefully review all available evidence, and once we meet our burden of proof, we will file criminal charges under Minnesota law. Any federal agent may subsequently try to move these cases from state court into federal court, but even if that occurs, we will maintain jurisdiction and continue our prosecution. I am admitted to practice in federal court and am prepared to navigate the legal and political complexities these state–federal cases present.

Fourth, my administration will stand up in court and aggressively pursue these cases without hesitation or fear of the Trump administration. We will secure convictions and send a clear message to Trump and his agents across the country that no person is above the law.

I will not stop fighting until we achieve full transparency and accountability.

Defending people’s constitutional rights against a powerful government is not new to me; it’s what I did every day in court early in my career as a public defender. The next County Attorney must act decisively, speak up for the silenced, and refuse to bend to the powerful. I know the history of our country—its promises and its failures—and I know what is possible when principled leaders step forward at critical moments.

With your support, I am ready to take up that responsibility—and pursue justice.