Federal Government Fights Minnesota's Challenge to Immigration Enforcement

Wed Jan 21 2026 05:32:14 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Trump administration contends that Minnesota's lawsuit against federal immigration sweeps is legally baseless, arguing the state's push to limit enforcement actions undermines federal authority.

The Trump administration is combating Minnesota and major cities’ lawsuit aimed at halting a surge in federal immigration enforcement. Following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an immigration officer, the government defended its actions, stating that Operation Metro Surge has led to over 3,000 arrests and claiming Minnesota is attempting to interfere with federal laws. Critics, including Minnesota's Attorney General, argue that D.H.S.'s tactics infringe on civil liberties and call for an end to aggressive practices, as public backlash escalates owing to fears surrounding community safety and transparency in arrest operations.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Trump administration is urging a judge to reject efforts by Minnesota and its largest cities to stop the immigration enforcement surge that has roiled Minneapolis and St. Paul for weeks.

The Justice Department called the lawsuit, filed soon after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an immigration officer, legally frivolous. Lawyers argued that the Department of Homeland Security is acting within its legal powers to enforce immigration laws.

Operation Metro Surge has made the state safer with the arrests of more than 3,000 people who were in the country illegally, the government said Monday in a court filing.

Put simply, Minnesota wants a veto over federal law enforcement, Justice Department attorneys wrote.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the government is violating free speech and other constitutional rights with its unprecedented sweeps. He described the armed officers as poorly trained and said the invasion must cease.

The lawsuit, filed Jan. 12, seeks an order to halt or limit the enforcement action. More filings are expected, and it’s uncertain when U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez will make a decision.

Ilan Wurman, a constitutional law professor at the University of Minnesota, said the state’s chances appear slim: There’s no question that federal law is supreme over state law, he opined.

Julia Decker, from the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, expressed concerns over the lack of transparency regarding the arrest statistics and allegations that U.S. citizens have been wrongly detained. These are real people we’re talking about, that we potentially have no idea what is happening to them, she remarked.

Public sentiment is growing against the actions of the U.S. Border Patrol and ICE, particularly following Good's death, which raised questions about accountability. President Trump had initially suggested sending troops to Minnesota to the enforcement but has since toned down his rhetoric.