MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A Minnesota police chief is raising serious civil rights concerns after a surge of complaints from residents who say they were stopped in public spaces and asked to prove their legal status despite committing no crime.
Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said his department has received “endless complaints” over the past two weeks from U.S. citizens who allege they were questioned about their immigration status during traffic stops or while walking on the street — without probable cause.
“What we’re hearing is they’re being stopped in traffic stops or on the street with no cause and being demanded to show paperwork to determine if they are here legally,” Bruley said during a public briefing alongside other law enforcement leaders.
According to Bruley, the complaints were not isolated incidents and extended beyond civilians. He said even off-duty police officers reported being subjected to the same treatment.
“We started hearing from our police officers the same complaints as they fell victim to this while off duty,” he said. “Every one of these individuals is a person of color. It has to stop.”
Allegations of Racial Profiling
Bruley’s remarks suggest a pattern of racial profiling — stopping individuals based on appearance rather than behavior — which civil rights advocates say is a clear violation of constitutional protections.
Under U.S. law, local and state police are prohibited from detaining individuals solely to determine immigration status unless tied to a legitimate criminal investigation. Demanding documentation without reasonable suspicion may violate the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, as well as Equal Protection guarantees under the Fourteenth Amendment.
Bruley did not publicly identify which agency or agencies were responsible for the stops but emphasized that the conduct being described does not align with lawful policing practices in Minnesota.
Law Enforcement Pushback
The chief’s comments come amid heightened tensions nationwide over immigration enforcement and the role of local police. Minnesota law enforcement agencies have historically sought to distance themselves from federal immigration enforcement to maintain trust within immigrant and minority communities.
Bruley made clear that cooperation with federal authorities does not give any officer license to stop people at random.
“Stopping people without cause and demanding paperwork is not constitutional policing,” one law enforcement official said following the briefing.
Community Impact and Fear
Community leaders say the reported encounters have had a chilling effect, particularly among communities of color — including U.S. citizens — who now fear routine activities like driving to work or walking in their neighborhoods could lead to unwarranted confrontations.
Civil rights groups warn that such actions can erode trust in law enforcement, making communities less likely to report crimes or cooperate with investigations.
Calls for Accountability
While no formal investigation has yet been announced, Bruley’s public condemnation signals that internal reviews or external oversight may follow if the allegations are substantiated.
Legal experts note that if officers are found to have engaged in immigration questioning without lawful authority, affected individuals could pursue civil rights claims.
For now, Bruley says his message is simple and unequivocal:
“This is wrong. It’s unconstitutional. And it must stop.”
The issue is expected to draw further scrutiny from state officials, civil rights organizations, and lawmakers in the coming days as more details emerge about who conducted the stops and under what authority.
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