WASHINGTON:- The Trump administration’s sweeping immigration crackdown in the US state of Minnesota has led to a significant decline in the number of investigations and prosecutions of other serious federal crimes. The focus on immigration enforcement has hurt drug trafficking, gang violence and illegal weapons cases, according to a Reuters review of federal court records.
Although the Trump administration has presented the campaign as a tougher crackdown on “violent illegal immigrants,” it has reportedly had a major impact on the routine responsibilities of federal law enforcement agencies. According to statistics, federal gun and drug cases in Minnesota have decreased by more than 80 percent this year compared to the same period last year.
The report says many experienced federal prosecutors have resigned, while some agents have turned over their complex investigations to local authorities and are focusing on immigration enforcement, raising concerns about the long-term impact on public safety.
Local prosecutors in Minnesota have expressed frustration with the federal government’s priorities. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said federal agents are now shifting complex criminal cases to local offices. “You can’t say that arresting church protesters is more important than human trafficking and drug trafficking,” she said.
About 3,000 federal agents have been deployed to various areas of Minnesota since December. During the campaign, agents have been accused of taking people away from schools and vehicles and carrying out evictions. Meanwhile, protests have flared nationally after two Americans were shot and killed during protests.
The federal attorney general’s office in Minnesota is currently facing a severe staffing shortage, which is delaying or dismissing many serious criminal cases. Lawyers have warned that federal resources could be too focused on immigration enforcement, which could weaken other criminal activities.