National & Minnesota Report
The impact of the ICE Occupation has effected nearly everyone in the state of Minnesota, either directly or indirectly. Once again, Donald J Trump’s (R) policies come to bare and these do not result in creating unity across the country but manifest division. The different sides of the debate seem to be if you are a humanitarian and care for all of humanity, or are you an egoist who only cares about you and yours. Since these positions are right inline with Trumpism and its counterpoint of Rationality.
In the US Senate endorsement fight between Congresswoman Angie Craig (D-MN02) and Lt Governor Margaret “Peggy” Flanagan (DFL-MN) the immigration issue has entered the debate. The Flanagan Argument against Craig, is now being advanced on Craig’s support for the Laken Riley Act, which Trump signed on January 29, 2025.
The points of significance in the law are:
Mandatory Detention: The Act (S.5/H.R.29) requires US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain undocumented immigrants, including those who entered without inspection or are in the US based on fraud, if they are arrested for, charged with, or convicted of specific crimes.
- Covered Crimes: The law covers offenses such as shoplifting, theft, burglary, larceny, or assaulting a law enforcement officer.
- State Authority: It authorizes state attorneys general to sue the federal government if a failure to uphold these detention requirements causes harm to the state or its residents.
- Background: The legislation is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student murdered in 2024 by an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela.
- Support: The bill received bipartisan support, with 46 House Democrats (Craig being one) and 10 Democratic senators (Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) being another) voting in favor.
Opponents argue this will cause force deportation for a person without the due process of law, since it is not based on a conviction, but merely a charge. Structurally, it encourages racial profiling, and creates systemic discrimination based on race.
Overall, it exploits a tragedy of the death of this young woman and results in the targeting of immigrants, based solely on their legal status.
Flanagan is clearly staking out the ground of being pro-immigrant rights, and because the DFL Rules allow for undocumented people, nonvoters to participate in their endorsement process, will definitely appeal to this block of delegates.
Polling & Fundraising
With the most recent polling showing Flanagan leading by 13-points 49% to 36% with 15% undecided, this poll is skewed to self-identified Democratic (DFLers) Primary Voters.
In the money side, as reported in February Craig holds a substantial lead over Flanagan in fundraising, first because she was able to transfer the money raised from her Congressional Campaign and what she was able to secure after her announcement.
Coverage dates: 04/20/2025 to 12/31/2025
|
Candidate |
|
|
Angie Craig |
|
|
Total Receipts |
6,788,377.06 |
|
Ending Cash Balance |
3,786,723.70 |
|
Candidate |
|
|
Margaret “Peggy” Flanagan |
|
|
Total Receipts |
3,287,670.06 |
|
Ending Cash Balance |
810,646.17 |
We have heard questions being raised about Flanagan and her direct connection to the fraud Issues Republicans keep asking about in regards to the Governor Tim Walz (DFL-MN) Administration. We doubt she will distance herself from this now, when she was so visibly tied to every single item and public event throughout the last 7-years. Although, with her own campaign underway, her attendance seems more metered.
As is the case, for Klobuchar’s Gubernatorial campaign the issue of Fraud is something Craig can comment on, but has no adverse impact from.