A judge sides with Trump’s immigration operations for now, saying Minnesota couldn’t make the case that they were unlawful

A judge refused to order the Trump administration to immediately halt its massive immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota this past Saturday. U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez declined the request from state officials who argued the federal campaign, dubbed Operation Metro Surge, was a dangerous and unconstitutional overreach that threatened their sovereignty and public safety.

The judge stated that Minnesota and the Twin Cities hadn’t definitively proven the operation was unlawful or designed to coerce local officials into cooperating with the administration’s broader objectives. The Washington Post reported that the operation involves approximately 3,000 officers and agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducting enforcement actions throughout the greater Minneapolis area.

Federal officials have maintained the crackdown is a success, despite reports of attacks and threats against their personnel. They pushed back hard against the lawsuit, saying Minnesota officials were essentially seeking a state veto over federal law enforcement. The Justice Department emphasized that President Trump campaigned on enforcing immigration laws, making Minnesota a “crucial priority for immigration enforcement.”

It is a battle between Federal and State

Minnesota officials, however, have painted a picture of absolute chaos and danger that requires urgent judicial intervention. They claimed that federal agents “stormed the Twin Cities to conduct militarized raids and carry out dangerous, illegal, and unconstitutional stops and arrests.” In their view, the administration launched the campaign specifically “to punish political opponents and score partisan points,” seriously undermining public trust and safety.

The state’s case was bolstered by the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two fatal shootings involving federal agents that have sparked widespread outrage. It triggered Minneapolis to launch its emergency preparedness protocols. Local officials slammed the federal authorities for slandering the victims and attempting to sweep away evidence. 

Considering the obvious gravity of the situation, Judge Menendez stressed that she wasn’t making a final ruling on the state’s claims. She said that it “would be difficult to overstate the effect this operation is having on the citizens of Minnesota, and the Court must acknowledge that reality here.” However, she had to weigh that against the federal government’s efforts to enforce immigration law.

During a court hearing on Monday, Judge Menendez admitted that “we are in shockingly unusual times.” The most shocking detail to emerge, however, involved a letter sent by Attorney General Pam Bondi to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) on Saturday, the same day Pretti was killed. 

Bondi demanded access to the state’s voter rolls and records related to food assistance programs. It seemed Bondi was attempting to link these demands with a possible end to the immigration crackdown. During the hearing, Judge Menendez didn’t mince words, questioning whether the letter was akin to a ransom note. She also clarified that she wasn’t deciding whether specific actions taken by immigration authorities during the operation were unlawful.