Could a small city’s legal battle reshape how federal power is wielded over local communities?
On Tuesday, during a broadcast of “CNN News Central,” St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her (D) addressed a lawsuit the city has joined against the federal government regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies. The mayor described the situation as lacking any legal precedent for blocking federal law enforcement actions and suggested the case could set a significant benchmark due to what she views as unusual federal intervention in local matters.
The discussion, hosted by co-anchor Kate Bolduan, delved into the legal grounding—or lack thereof—for the city’s position. Bolduan pressed Her on whether any court has ever barred a federal agency from enforcing national law within a state or municipality. Her acknowledged that no such prior case exists, framing the current moment as historically unique.
While Her insists the lawsuit isn’t about stopping ICE agents from their lawful duties, according to Breitbart News, the core argument hinges on perceived overstepping by the federal government.
Her stated, “Never in any other administration has any president had this type of overreach into local jurisdictions. And so, we will be that precedent-setting case.”
This bold claim suggests St. Paul is ready to carve a new path in legal history. But it raises questions about whether such a stance can hold up in court.
Let’s be clear: federal law has always superseded local objections when it comes to enforcement of national policies like immigration. If St. Paul wants to challenge that hierarchy, they’re climbing a steep hill with no map.
The idea of “overreach” might resonate emotionally, but legally, it’s a tough sell without concrete precedent. Bolduan’s line of questioning cut to the heart of the matter, asking about the legal foundation for St. Paul’s position.
Bolduan asked, “The question, though, Mayor, is what legal standard are you leaning on? The legal standard of — as we’ve seen it being called — an invasion in the state, there’s not really a legal standard of that. Is there any case or precedent where a judge is prohibiting a federal law enforcement agency from enforcing federal law in a state or city?”
Her’s response didn’t offer a clear answer, instead doubling down on the notion of unprecedented times. Courts don’t often build rulings on feelings of uniqueness—they look for hard evidence and prior decisions.
Turning to the policy at hand, immigration enforcement remains a lightning rod for tension between federal mandates and local priorities. St. Paul’s leadership appears to view ICE’s actions as infringing on their ability to govern as they see fit.
Her’s argument that no prior administration has acted with such reach into local affairs might strike a chord with those wary of centralized power. But federal agencies like ICE operate under laws passed by Congress, not whims of a single leader.
What’s at stake here isn’t just St. Paul’s autonomy but the potential ripple effect on other cities. If this lawsuit gains traction, it could embolden municipalities to pick and choose which federal laws they’ll accept.
That’s a slippery slope toward governance gridlock, where national unity frays at the edges. The mayor’s vision of a precedent-setting case is ambitious, no doubt.
But ambition without legal teeth often fizzles out in the courtroom. Federal supremacy in matters like immigration isn’t just a theory—it’s a pillar of our system, and St. Paul’s fight might not change the rules of the game.
