Garage Logic Podcast – January 27, 2026

Episode 1703: Breaking Down the Minneapolis Separation Ordinance vs. Minnesota State Protocols

Episode Overview

In this episode, "The Mayor" Joe Soucheray and the Garage Logic crew undertake a deep-dive analysis of the Minneapolis Separation Ordinance. The discussion clarifies confusion surrounding how the ordinance differs from Minnesota’s Department of Corrections protocols in the context of immigration enforcement. The hosts aim to lay out the legal and political distinctions, probe the motivations of the council members behind the ordinance, and consider the wider implications for public safety and tribal political divisions in Minnesota.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Roots Music Debates and Garage Anecdotes (02:00–08:00)

• Roots music definition: The crew receives a listener's clarification about the term "roots music" encompassing both bluegrass, country, and R&B.
• Garage discovery: Joe shares a personal story about finding unfamiliar but useful jumper cables, leading to an exploration of lost tools and car anecdotes.

Noteworthy moment (paraphrased):

"Did you ever encounter anything in your garage that's terribly useful and you have no idea where it came from or how you got it?" – Joe (03:25)

2. Clarifying Minnesota State vs. Minneapolis Immigration Protocols (08:00–19:00)

State Department of Corrections Protocols:

• The Minnesota Department of Corrections DOES cooperate with ICE. Information about undocumented immigrants in state prisons is made available to ICE.
• Commissioner Paul Schnell asserts the state DOC honors ICE detainers and coordinates transfers when requested.
• Only about 200 undocumented residents are in Minnesota state prisons—a figure lower than often alleged.

Minneapolis Separation Ordinance:

• Authored by Jason Chavez, Aisha Chugtai, and Aisha Chowdhury (Democratic Socialists).
• Policy Summary (from ordinance):
  • Minneapolis will not use city resources—including local law enforcement—to enforce federal immigration law.
  • City personnel cannot inquire about immigration status, ensuring all residents feel safe reporting crimes or seeking services.
  • Amended as recently as Dec 2025 to strengthen the separation; language implying cooperation with ICE was struck out.
  • The intention is to preserve trust with immigrant communities and direct city resources towards local public safety priorities.

Memorable quote:

"The city is safer, healthier, and more vibrant when city personnel maintain a relationship of trust, respect, and cooperation with city residents. The trust, respect and cooperation would be destroyed [...] if city personnel were to act as agents of federal immigration authorities." – Joe Soucheray reading from the ordinance (13:10)

Key Distinction:

• State vs. City: The state’s DOC actively assists ICE, while Minneapolis city has chosen, by ordinance, NOT to assist in federal immigration enforcement.

3. Political Motivations and Ramifications (19:00–28:00)

• The hosts debate why council members authored and passed the separation ordinance.
• Possibilities raised:
  • Social justice commitment, opposition to America’s historic approach to borders.
  • An “anti-American socialist agenda” (Kenny) vs. more charitable readings about humanity and trust.
• The vote to strengthen the ordinance was unanimous among the Minneapolis City Council, reflecting the city's progressive leanings.

Quote:

"They’re socialist. They don’t like the way this country was started and the way it is and they want to change it." – Kenny Olson (21:45)

• Joe points out: “Elections have consequences. This is who Minneapolis has voted to represent them.” (18:58)

• The ordinance restricts city agencies from notifying ICE about upcoming releases of detained undocumented immigrants, limiting cooperation even in cases involving felonies unless a judicial warrant is presented.

4. Distinction Between Jails and Prisons & Federal-State Confusion (28:00–33:00)

• Minnesota county jails (especially Hennepin) do NOT honor ICE detainers without a judge’s warrant – a practice distinct from state prisons.
• Review by Fox 9 (Joe Augustine): Most incidents cited by the Trump administration as failures of local cooperation were years old or bore little factual basis.
• Only 4 recent cases of people exiting jail and being detained by ICE; most claims are misattributions or record-keeping errors.

Insight:

"Jails are run by the county. Prisons by the state. The state cooperates with ICE. Some counties, like Hennepin, do not unless there’s a judge’s order." – Joe Soucheray (27:54)

5. A Broader Lens: National Politics, Bipartisanship, and Tribalism (34:00–43:00)

• Discussion of past bipartisan efforts, including a replayed clip of President Obama on immigration reform (34:53–37:40).
• Hosts lament loss of bipartisanship. Obama’s “pathway to citizenship” bill failed in the House largely due to opposition from Tea Party-aligned Republicans, not even coming to a vote.
• The crew agrees: political posturing on all sides prioritizes staying in office and tribal loyalty over solving problems.

Quotable Exchange:

“There’s a key word there that doesn’t exist today, and that’s bipartisan.” – Joe Soucheray (37:26) “We’ve become two tribes.” – Kenny Olson (38:38)

6. Recent Developments & Breaking News (47:30–54:00)

• Federal judge in Minnesota calls ICE’s Acting Director Todd Lyons to account for failing to comply with repeated court orders, citing the agency’s lack of responsiveness in providing bond hearings (47:53–50:04).
• Political reshuffling: Border Patrol commander removed in wake of local backlash, Trump attempting to de-escalate ICE’s aggressive tactics (50:30–52:00).
• Critique of expanding government bureaucracy (Homeland Security, ICE, etc.), noting the inefficiencies and lack of clear leadership.

Joe sums it up: “The larger the government gets, the more inefficient it proves to be.” (53:52)

7. Minneapolis’ Immigration Policy: Plainer Language (46:14–47:53)

• The city’s own summary simply states: city employees, police, and firefighters do not enforce immigration laws, cannot ask about status, and everyone should feel safe using city services.

8. Miscellaneous & Listener Engagement (60:00+)

• Music trivia, state fair announcements, and anecdotes fill out the back half of the episode.
• The crew reflects on how tribal political identity shapes perceptions, and Joe reaffirms his commitment to angering both sides through independent thinking.

Laugh-line:

“I have many close friends and I don’t like any of them.” – Kenny Olson (57:03)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Roots music debate & Garage stories – 02:00–08:00
• Minnesota DOC vs. city policies explanation – 08:00–15:00
• Separation ordinance language & rationale – 13:10–18:58
• Political motivations & council votes – 17:03–19:03
• Distinction jail/prison; Fox 9 analysis – 27:54–33:58
• Obama speech on immigration & bipartisan breakdown – 34:53–43:12
• Judge orders ICE to comply – 47:53–50:04
• City’s summary of separation policy – 46:14–47:53

Notable Quotes

• On Minneapolis separation ordinance:

  “The city of Minneapolis is committed to serving all residents, no matter their immigration status. [...] Do not enforce federal immigration laws, cannot ask about your immigration status or documentation.” – Joe Soucheray, reading city website (46:14)

• On state vs. city cooperation with ICE:

  "The state of Minnesota has no laws prohibiting the Department of Corrections from aiding immigration control enforcement. The city of Minneapolis has a specific ordinance that prohibits city personnel from aiding immigration control enforcement." – Joe Soucheray (14:55)

• On the confusion in public claims:

  “Jails are operated by county sheriff’s departments... Persons prisons are operated by the Department of Corrections. Minnesota law requires the DOC to notify ICE when a person committed to DOC custody is not a U.S. citizen.” – Joe Soucheray (27:54)

• On tribal politics:

  “Don’t you feel kind of free in GL having your own sense of your own individuality to try to look at stuff and weigh it as opposed to being a member of the tribes?” – Joe Soucheray (56:34)

Tone & Takeaways

The episode, typical for Garage Logic, swings from irreverence to serious policy discussion, but always with the straightforward, gumption-fueled tone Joe Soucheray is known for. The hosts express skepticism of both the left and right “tribes,” emphasizing the need for independent thought. They call for improved clarity and coordination between agencies on issues like immigration—acknowledging that public safety and compassion don’t have to be mutually exclusive if genuinely pursued. The episode is a must-listen for anyone confused about Minneapolis’ “sanctuary” policies or Minnesota’s state/federal immigration dynamics.

For further legal language, listeners are encouraged to read the full Minneapolis separation ordinance and review state DOC protocols available on their respective official websites.