Federal Judge Upholds Immigration Operation in Minnesota

A federal judge in Minnesota has rejected a call from state and local officials to temporarily halt Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement initiative, allowing it to continue. This decision came from U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez, appointed by President Biden.

The lawsuit, filed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and other officials, contends that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is infringing upon constitutional protections and seeks to either stop or limit the enforcement actions. However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) characterized the lawsuit as “legally frivolous.”

Ellison was joined by officials from the Twin Cities in this legal battle against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons. They believe the ruling points to federal overreach and violations of the 10th Amendment, which restricts the federal government’s authority over state sovereignty.

In her decision, Judge Menendez acknowledged the significant emotional and social toll on Minnesota communities, specifically citing issues like racial profiling and the disruption of everyday life.

“Plaintiffs ask the Court to extend existing precedent to a new context where its application is less direct — namely, to an unprecedented deployment of armed federal immigration officers to aggressively enforce immigration statutes,” she wrote. “None of the cases on which they rely have even come close.”

Despite recognizing some irreparable harm, the judge concluded that the potential damage to the federal government from halting immigration law enforcement outweighed the state’s concerns, referencing previous court decisions.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey expressed his disagreement with the ruling, stating that it doesn’t change the fear and disruption caused by the federal operation.

“This decision doesn’t change what people here have lived through — fear, disruption, and harm from a federal operation that had no place in Minneapolis,” he remarked. “This operation has not increased public safety; instead, it’s done the opposite.”

Operation Metro Surge began in late 2025 and involves around 3,000 federal agents, mainly from ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CPB). Its goal is to counteract what the Trump administration describes as hindrances due to sanctuary policies in Minnesota. Reports indicate that the initiative has led to over 1,000 arrests, provoking nationwide protests over allegations of excessive force, including the fatal shootings of two anti-ICE activists, which have prompted a civil rights investigation by the DOJ.

Officials in Minnesota have announced plans to appeal this ruling soon.