this post was submitted on 08 Jan 2026
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Shortly after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis on Wednesday, city leaders began looking into whether the officer had violated state criminal law.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said, “We collectively are going to do everything possible to get to the bottom of this, to get justice, and to make sure that there is an investigation that is conducted in full.” Police Chief Brian O’Hara followed up by saying that the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is “investigat[ing] whether any state laws within the state of Minnesota have been violated.”

If they conclude that state law has been violated, the question is: What next? Contrary to recent assertions from some federal officials, states can prosecute federal officers for violating state criminal laws, and there is precedent for that.

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[–] Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 4 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Right, but I’m saying, that that state is going to attempt to prosecute,

Right. Understood. The state prosecutor files charges in a state court

and the Feds are going to say it should be a federal trial,

Right. The federal prosecutor files charges in a federal court.

[The feds] drop charges.

The only charges the feds can drop are the charges in federal court. So there are no more federal charges.

Are you saying the state would refile charges?

I'm saying the state never dismissed the charges in state court. They don't need to refile anything; the state charges are still filed.

I guess where I’m confused is, if the it went to federal court, it wouldn’t be tried in state court, correct?

That is incorrect. The state and the federal government can both decide they want to prosecute. Luigi Mangione, for example, faces charges in both New York and Federal courts.

[–] Waraugh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 4 days ago

I was about to bring reference to Luigi into the discussion you help clarify the point you were trying to make to the other individual because it was an active example and noticed at the very end of your comment that you did so yourself. Like you I’ve struggled with accepting this in the past but it seems perfectly situated for the current landscape of states attempting to function under a corrupt fascist federal regime. In the past a state would commonly not pursue charges that were satisfied by federal procedure but that was because generally those procedures were able to be respected by the state’s.

[–] Hathaway@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Okay and when the federal government removes the state judge from the state case and appoints a federal judge, what then? The federal judge is now hearing the case on behalf of the state.

[–] Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

That's not a thing that can happen. The state supreme court can substitute another state judge, but the federal government does not have the power you describe.

[–] Hathaway@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

28 U.S. Code § 1441 & 1442 disagree.

[–] Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

28 USC 1441:

Except as otherwise expressly provided by Act of Congress, any civil action brought in a State court of which the district courts of the United States have original jurisdiction, may be removed by the defendant or the defendants, to the district court of the United States for the district and division embracing the place where such action is pending.

  1. State level murder charges are not a civil action.
  2. The district courts of the United States do not have original jurisdiction over state-level murder charges.

28 USC 1442:

(a) A civil action or criminal prosecution that is commenced in a State court and that is against or directed to any of the following may be removed by them to the district court of the United States for the district and division embracing the place wherein it is pending:

(1) The United States or any agency thereof or any officer (or any person acting under that officer) of the United States or of any agency thereof, in an official or individual capacity, for or relating to any act under color of such office or on account of any right, title or authority claimed under any Act of Congress for the apprehension or punishment of criminals or the collection of the revenue.

Apprehension or punishment of criminals: The president's position is that ICE is repelling an invasion, not enforcing law. The president's argument against Birthright Citizenship, and his entire justification for non-judicial deportation is that the immigrants in question are not "criminals", but foreign nationals not subject to the laws of the United States. The detainees are not considered criminals; they are not afforded the rights of criminals. Since the president's executive order on birthright citizenship, ICE actions in general are not for the apprehension or punishment of criminals.

Allowing the case to be moved to the district court on these grounds would set a more important precedent than the murder charge.

The other categories do not apply to ICE agents.

[–] Hathaway@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 days ago

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I do believe we have people deranged enough to try. Thank you for the comprehensive breakdown. I certainly do not know the nuances of law, just what I gathered.