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Sunday, Feb 01, 2026
Outside the box.
Federal Judge Declines Minnesota’s Bid to Halt Trump Administration’s Immigration Enforcement Surge
U.S. District Judge rejects immediate injunction against Operation Metro Surge, allowing the federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota to continue as legal challenges proceed
A federal judge has denied Minnesota’s urgent request to immediately end a sweeping federal immigration enforcement operation in the state, rebuffing arguments that it unlawfully infringes on state sovereignty and disrupts daily life.
In a ruling this weekend, U.S. District Judge Katherine M. Menendez concluded that Minnesota, alongside the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, had not met the high legal standard required for a preliminary injunction to pause the operation while the lawsuit proceeds.
The enforcement surge, known as Operation Metro Surge, was launched in December by the Department of Homeland Security and has deployed thousands of federal agents to the Twin Cities region to crack down on undocumented immigrants and individuals with criminal records.
State officials had argued that the surge exceeded constitutional limits under the Tenth Amendment and amounted to coercion aimed at compelling local cooperation, citing incidents of racial profiling, excessive force and two fatal shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis.
Judge Menendez acknowledged the serious impacts documented by plaintiffs, describing the situation as “profound and even heartbreaking,” but emphasised that she lacked authority at this early stage of litigation to halt the federal operation.
She noted that courts traditionally refrain from second-guessing executive decisions on enforcement priorities unless clear, binding legal criteria are met, and stressed that her decision does not resolve the broader constitutional claims.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said state leaders were disappointed but would continue to pursue the case, underscoring that the ruling was not a final determination on the merits.
Federal officials and supporters of the operation welcomed the ruling, with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi calling it a significant legal victory that reaffirmed the administration’s authority to enforce national immigration laws.
The dispute has catalysed protests in Minneapolis and beyond as critics of the operation continue to raise concerns about its social and civil liberties implications.
The legal battle is expected to advance through the courts, with both sides preparing for further hearings and filings in the coming weeks.
In a ruling this weekend, U.S. District Judge Katherine M. Menendez concluded that Minnesota, alongside the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, had not met the high legal standard required for a preliminary injunction to pause the operation while the lawsuit proceeds.
The enforcement surge, known as Operation Metro Surge, was launched in December by the Department of Homeland Security and has deployed thousands of federal agents to the Twin Cities region to crack down on undocumented immigrants and individuals with criminal records.
State officials had argued that the surge exceeded constitutional limits under the Tenth Amendment and amounted to coercion aimed at compelling local cooperation, citing incidents of racial profiling, excessive force and two fatal shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis.
Judge Menendez acknowledged the serious impacts documented by plaintiffs, describing the situation as “profound and even heartbreaking,” but emphasised that she lacked authority at this early stage of litigation to halt the federal operation.
She noted that courts traditionally refrain from second-guessing executive decisions on enforcement priorities unless clear, binding legal criteria are met, and stressed that her decision does not resolve the broader constitutional claims.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said state leaders were disappointed but would continue to pursue the case, underscoring that the ruling was not a final determination on the merits.
Federal officials and supporters of the operation welcomed the ruling, with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi calling it a significant legal victory that reaffirmed the administration’s authority to enforce national immigration laws.
The dispute has catalysed protests in Minneapolis and beyond as critics of the operation continue to raise concerns about its social and civil liberties implications.
The legal battle is expected to advance through the courts, with both sides preparing for further hearings and filings in the coming weeks.
