Crow Wing MN — Sheriff Signed Dual 287(g) Without Board Approval
The Fight
Sheriff Eric Klang signed two 287(g) agreements with ICE in March 2025:
- Task Force Model (TFM) — March 25, 2025: Allows deputies to enforce civil immigration law in the field
- Warrant Service Officer (WSO) — March 26, 2025: Allows jail staff to serve ICE warrants on inmates
Neither agreement was brought before the Crow Wing County Board of Commissioners for approval. The county also began housing ICE detainees under an IGSA in November 2025.
On December 12, 2025, AG Keith Ellison issued a formal legal opinion finding that Minnesota law does not permit sheriffs to enter 287(g) agreements unilaterally — the authority rests with county boards. Despite this, Crow Wing’s agreements remain in effect.
Residents have packed board meetings demanding transparency and discussion. The board has been divided in its response but has not voted to either ratify or rescind the agreements.
Why This Fight Matters
Crow Wing is the most aggressive 287(g) county in Minnesota — the only one with both TFM and WSO models. The TFM is especially significant because it allows deputies to enforce immigration law outside the jail, in the community. This makes Crow Wing not just a detention site but an active enforcement partner.
The unilateral signing pattern — sheriff acts first, board deals with it later — is the same dynamic seen in Freeborn, Kandiyohi, Cass, and Itasca counties. The AG opinion creates a legal basis to challenge all of them, and the ACLU’s Freeborn injunction (January 2026) provides the judicial precedent.
The 3-minute engagement time from the site visitor suggests someone deeply interested in this specific dynamic — likely a local organizer, journalist, or attorney.
Sources
- CBS Minnesota: Crow Wing County sheriff addresses 2 agreements with ICE
- Brainerd Dispatch: Residents speak out on ICE agreement at board meeting
- Brainerd Dispatch: Commissioners react to sheriff’s work with ICE
- MN AG Opinion: Sheriffs cannot unilaterally enter 287(g) agreements (Dec 12, 2025)
- KAXE: Northern MN counties clarify ICE cooperation after AG opinion