Federal Judge Set to Hear Challenges to Minnesota's Immigration Crackdown

Thu Jan 29 2026 20:10:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A lawsuit filed by Minnesota and its cities seeks to halt a federal immigration crackdown linked to recent fatalities involving government officers.

As tensions escalate over a controversial immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, a federal judge is set to hear arguments aimed at temporarily halting the crackdown. This comes after two fatal shootings by federal officers have intensified concerns about the strategy implemented by the Trump administration. The Minnesota Attorney General expresses the need for immediate judicial intervention to protect residents and limit federal overreach.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge will hear arguments Monday on whether to temporarily halt an immigration crackdown in Minnesota linked to the fatal shootings of two individuals by government officers.

Earlier this month, Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul sued the Department of Homeland Security following the shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs officer. A Border Patrol officer fatally shot Alex Pretti shortly thereafter, escalating urgency around the case.

In their lawsuit, officials are seeking to restore the pre-Trump era status quo prior to the initiation of Operation Metro Surge on December 1.

The hearing is scheduled for Monday morning in Minneapolis federal court, attended by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

They demand that U.S. District Judge Kathleen Menendez mandate a reduction of federal law enforcement personnel in Minnesota to levels prior to the surge, while allowing them to continue enforcing immigration laws under specified limits.

Justice Department attorneys termed the lawsuit legally frivolous, arguing it grants Minnesota a veto over federal law enforcement. They are pushing the judge to dismiss the request or delay her order pending an anticipated appeal.

Ellison stated at a news conference that the lawsuit is a response to the unprecedented nature of the surge, which constitutes a novel abuse of constitutional rights. Such a situation has not been witnessed before, he emphasized.

The ruling from this case may resonate with other states experiencing aggressive federal immigration operations. Attorneys general from nineteen states, led by California, filed supportive briefs backing Minnesota's stance.

The attorneys general warned that unchecked federal action could encourage further unlawful conduct within Minnesota and beyond.

This is not the first case Menendez has presided over regarding federal officers' conduct in Minnesota. Prior, she ruled against detaining or using tear gas on peaceful protesters not obstructing federal agents. That ruling was temporarily stayed by appeals court just before Pretti's shooting.

Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty have sought an order to preserve evidence related to the incident, pointing to a subsequent order issued late Saturday in another case blocking the administration from altering or destroying evidence.

“The fact that anyone would ever think that an agent of the federal government might take such actions was unforeseeable just weeks ago,” Ellison remarked, illustrating the unexpected turn of events following recent shootings.