By Mike Lindell is facing criticism from conservatives after proposing a temporary deportation moratorium and a system of conditional work visas for illegal immigrants if he is elected governor of Minnesota.
The controversy gained traction after conservative commentator Scottie Nell Hughes shared criticism of the proposal on social media, helping fuel backlash from Republicans who argue the plan amounts to amnesty.
Lindell unveiled the proposal during an interview with the Washington Examiner, where he said he would pause deportations for six months while requiring illegal immigrants in Minnesota to register with the state.
“I’d like the whole United States to do this, but let’s say I did it here in Minnesota,” Lindell told the outlet. “Six months, all the illegal immigrants would have to go get what’s going to be called a conditional work visa.”
Mike Lindell just surrendered to the radical left by supporting amnesty for illegal aliens.
– Conditional visas where you never have to leave the country regardless of citizenship.
– Drivers licenses for illegals.
– Government subsidies to illegals to gain legal status.“You… pic.twitter.com/acogy58jWR
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) July 22, 2026
Under Lindell’s proposal, illegal immigrants would be required to submit fingerprints and undergo criminal background checks during the six-month period. Those without serious criminal histories would receive conditional work visas allowing them to remain and work in Minnesota indefinitely without pursuing U.S. citizenship, provided they continue to satisfy the program’s requirements.
Lindell argued the plan would bring workers into the legal economy, increase tax revenue, eliminate off-the-books employment and allow law enforcement to focus on criminals rather than otherwise law-abiding illegal immigrants.
The proposal quickly drew criticism from conservative who argued the plan represented an amnesty policy and contrasted it with the immigration positions of other Republican candidates in the state. Hughes amplified that criticism by sharing Grage’s post with her followers, bringing the debate to a broader national conservative audience.
The disagreement underscores an ongoing divide within the Republican Party over immigration and highlights how insane the issue have has become in Minnesota. While President Donald Trump has made mass deportations and aggressive immigration enforcement a centerpiece of his administration, some Republicans have continued to advocate allowing certain illegal immigrants already in the country to remain under limited legal status.
Lindell has been one of Trump’s most prominent allies for years and became a nationally recognized conservative figure through his advocacy on election integrity issues. His immigration proposal, however, has surprised many conservatives who view any policy allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the country as inconsistent with the GOP’s current approach to border security.
The debate also comes as Lindell attempts to win the Republican nomination for governor in Minnesota, a state where Republicans have struggled in recent statewide elections. His immigration proposal is now becoming a flashpoint in the primary campaign as conservatives debate what the party’s immigration platform should look like heading into the 2026 midterms.
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