Immigration activists are renewing calls for Minnesota’s governor and those running to succeed him to commit to making the state a sanctuary state, and at the national level, and advocacy group proposes changes to how civil immigration violations are handled.

The reform demands follow public scrutiny of the Trump administration’s aggressive push to boost deportations. The American Immigration Council said its new plan would restore credibility and humanity to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Dara Lind, senior fellow for the council, said the group wants to avoid cases in which people without legal status who have lived in the U.S. for a long time and stayed out of trouble have their lives upended.

Image

“All of us have seen this — someone who has roots in the community, who everyone involved in the process agrees should be able to stay, but their hands are tied because there’s only one penalty, and that’s deportation,” Lind explained.

She was referring to people who contribute to their communities as workers and, in some cases, have family members who are citizens.

The council said when such individuals are detained by agents and sent to immigration court, they should be offered alternative penalties, such as fines or community service, which would apply to civil immigration violations.

It is unclear whether policymakers would consider the changes, even if Democrats regain control of Congress.

Lind argued an alternative mechanism for immigration enforcement could still ensure accountability.

“If you’re not acting in good faith, in compliance with the rules, if you’re a major violator, then you get sent to deportation proceedings because the point is to get people in a spirit of compliance and for the government and people to work together,” she said.

Nanya Gupta, policy director for the council, said even if other parts of the nation’s immigration system eventually improve, including asylum policy, enforcement still needs drastic overhauls.

“Because it is this part of the immigration system that has been weaponized against immigrants, American communities, and core tenets of our democracy,” Gupta contended.

In a national poll from April, 54% of Americans said they disapprove of how President Donald Trump has handled deportations.

Support for this reporting was provided by the philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York.