Federal Court to Hear Case Challenging Minnesota's Immigration Enforcement Crackdown

Mon Feb 02 2026 20:27:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A federal judge is set to hear arguments on Monday regarding a lawsuit filed by Minnesota, Minneapolis, and St. Paul against the Department of Homeland Security. The lawsuit follows recent fatal shootings by federal officers during immigration enforcement actions.

A federal court in Minnesota will hear arguments on the legality of a sweeping immigration enforcement operation that some claim has led to civil rights violations, including recent fatal shootings by government officers. The suit, filed by state and city officials, aims to restore pre-Operation Metro Surge conditions while addressing growing concerns over federal law enforcement's impact on community safety.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge will hear arguments Monday on whether to temporarily halt a controversial immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, which has been linked to two fatal shootings by federal agents.

The state, alongside the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, citing incidents including the recent shooting of 35-year-old Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. The urgency of the lawsuit increased following the shooting of Alex Pretti, a protester, by a Border Patrol officer over the weekend.

The suit requests U.S. District Judge Kathleen Menendez to limit the number of federal officers in Minnesota to pre-Operation Metro Surge levels, which began on December 1 under the Trump administration, while still allowing necessary immigration law enforcement within specified limits.

Democratic Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced that he would personally attend the hearing, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of this enforcement surge, calling it an abuse of constitutional rights.

Justice Department attorneys have dismissed the lawsuit as legally frivolous, seeking to reject the request or delay a ruling pending an expected appeal.

Ellison highlighted that the current situation threatens similar operations in other states, urging that unchecked federal aggression could embolden further unlawful behavior in Minnesota and beyond.

The hearing is expected to have significant implications, as attorneys general from 19 states, along with the District of Columbia, have filed a brief supporting Minnesota's case. These officials express concern that federal enforcement actions threaten to infringe upon civil liberties.

The case also comes in light of legal challenges concerning federal officers' detention and treatment of peaceful protesters, particularly with new developments following recent incidents of violence.

As the judicial proceedings unfold, Ellison remains cautious yet hopeful. We hoped it would not have come to this, but circumstances have forced our hand, he stated.