Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has appointed members to a new state council tasked with documenting the impact of the federal immigration enforcement surge in the state.
Walz appointed 13 people, including retired Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill, who will chair the panel.
Cahill was appointed to the bench by former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and presided over the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in 2021. Cahill served as a judge from 2007 until his retirement in 2024.
Other appointees include several professors and organizers, the head of the Minnesota Farmers Union, a police chief and a public school superintendent:
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Ana Pottratz Acosta
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Kate Beane
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Jenna Chernega
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Abdulahi Farah
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Pakou Hang
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Liliana Letran-Garcia
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Kathleen Miller
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Fionnuala Ni Aolain
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Roger New
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Jose Pablo Obregon
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Zena Stenvik
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Gary Wertish
“Documenting history requires trusted leaders who are committed to listening, preserving people’s experiences, and ensuring that Minnesota’s story is not forgotten,” Walz said in a news release. “These council members bring deep expertise, lived experience, and a shared commitment to the truth. Their work will help create a lasting public record of both the harm endured and the resilience Minnesotans demonstrated during this difficult chapter in our state’s history.”
The governor’s office said the panel will gather evidence and testimony about the effects of the Trump administration’s immigration policies and enforcement surge — “both the harm endured and the generosity and resilience demonstrated by Minnesotans.”
Members will also issue recommendations to help the state recover and prevent potential harm in the future.
