Mike Lindell, the Trump-endorsed Republican candidate for Minnesota governor, has proposed a six-month amnesty period for illegal immigrants with no other criminal history to register for non-expiring conditional work visas.

Proposal Details

Under Lindell’s proposal, Minnesota would impose a six-month deportation moratorium while illegal immigrants register, submit fingerprints, and undergo criminal background checks. Applicants would not receive citizenship or voting rights, but the conditional visas would not expire.

Lindell also said employers who continued paying illegal immigrants in cash after the registration period should face jail time. “If you’re caught hiring people for cash again, hiring people for cash, the illegals, you go to prison,” Lindell said. “The CEO will go to prison for 90 days, or to jail.”

Criticism and Controversy

Lindell’s proposal has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans, with some accusing him of abandoning Republican voters on immigration. Minnesota-based Republican strategist Dustin Grage said, “Mike Lindell just surrendered to the radical left by supporting amnesty for illegal aliens.” Texas Scorecard publisher Michael Quinn Sullivan also criticized Lindell, saying he was “pushing far-left talking points on border security and amnesty for illegal aliens.”

The backlash came as the August 11 Republican primary remained effectively tied on Polymarket. At 5:31 p.m. Central on Wednesday, Lindell stood at 50% and Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth at 49%, with more than $452,000 traded.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.