Local Prosecutors Launch 'Fight Against Federal Overreach' to Push Back on Immigration Enforcement Tactics

A coalition of local prosecutors, criminal-justice experts and former federal prosecutors announced a coordinated initiative Wednesday to challenge what they describe as unconstitutional federal overreach in recent immigration enforcement operations around Minneapolis.

Project Aims and Name

The initiative, dubbed Fight Against Federal Overreach, is intended to strategize, share resources and seek accountability for aggressive tactics used by immigration officers in Minneapolis and neighboring communities. The name is deliberately provocative and references a crude acronym that has circulated online and in political discourse.

Deaths, Protests and Political Fallout

The coalition’s launch follows two fatal encounters involving federal officers in the area, including the shooting death of Alex Prettion, incidents that have prompted large protests and criticism from officials across the political spectrum. Local leaders say these events have intensified scrutiny of federal enforcement methods and elevated concerns about civil liberties and public safety.

Concerns From Local Prosecutors

Larry Krasner, Philadelphia’s district attorney and a founding member of the coalition, criticized the posture and tactics now visible in some enforcement operations, including officers concealing badges and faces. Krasner said he has not previously seen a similar combination of aggressive tactics and what he described as poor legal guidance from higher authorities.

“A functional Department of Justice, gone. Functional United States attorneys’ offices applying the law in an even-handed way, gone. Good, qualified officials within those organizations: they’re retiring, resigning or leaving,” Krasner said. “It used to be you could rely on the federal government to rein in rogue sheriffs who are killing people on the side of the road ... but now the federal government are the rogue sheriffs.”

Access, Investigations and Federal Response

The Associated Press reported that federal officials denied Minnesota investigators access to the scenes after the fatal shootings of Prettion and Renee Good. Federal authorities also told state officials that the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division did not need to open an inquiry into those deaths — a departure, coalition members say, from the long-standing practice of launching civil-rights reviews after similar fatal encounters.

AP also sought comment from the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies. While coalition members say federal leadership has not adequately constrained aggressive tactics, federal agencies and some political supporters have defended the operations as lawful and necessary. Some public figures — including Sen. J.D. Vance — have made statements asserting broad legal protections for officers, which coalition members say contributes to a perception of impunity.

Local Impact on the Justice System

The coalition includes Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty (Hennepin County covers Minneapolis and St. Paul), prosecutors from Austin, Texas, multiple Virginia jurisdictions and other local leaders. They warn that enforcement practices — including courthouse arrests just outside buildings, warrantless entries and detentions the coalition describes as unlawful or coercive — are damaging local criminal-justice functions.

Prosecutors say the tactics are deterring crime victims from reporting offenses, intimidating witnesses and discouraging defendants from appearing in court, which in turn undermines public safety and the integrity of local prosecutions.

Next Steps

The new coalition plans to coordinate legal strategies, share investigative findings and press for accountability where members believe federal officers have violated constitutional or statutory protections. Local prosecutors say they will pursue remedies available under state law and use public pressure and litigation where appropriate.