A federal judge has rejected Minnesota’s attempt to block President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement surge in the Twin Cities, dealing a major blow to state officials seeking to limit federal action. U.S. District Judge Katherine M. Menendez, a Biden appointee, denied the injunction on Saturday, stating the legal arguments made by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and local leaders “did not come close” to justifying judicial interference.
The lawsuit, filed earlier this month by Ellison along with the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, sought to halt “Operation Metro Surge,” a large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation launched across the metro area. Plaintiffs cited constitutional concerns, especially the 10th Amendment, in their bid to restrict the federal crackdown.
Menendez’s ruling pointed out that the legal theories presented were untested and that similar judicial interventions had been overturned on appeal. She wrote that halting the entire operation, as Ellison requested, would go even further than injunctions courts had already deemed overreaching.
The judge declined to wade into the broader political debate, stating the court was not in a position to “micromanage” federal immigration decisions. She added that the harm claimed by Minnesota officials did not outweigh the federal government’s authority or justify immediate intervention.
The Biden-appointed judge emphasized that her ruling only addressed the injunction request, not the full merits of the case, which will proceed through the federal court system. Still, the decision ensures ICE agents can continue operations in the Twin Cities for now.
The Trump administration had sharply criticized the lawsuit, with federal attorneys calling the arguments “legally frivolous.” Attorney General Pam Bondi celebrated the decision, writing on X: “Neither sanctuary policies nor meritless litigation will stop the Trump Administration from enforcing federal law in Minnesota.”
The legal battle comes amid growing unrest in Minnesota, where protests have erupted following recent enforcement actions. Ellison’s lawsuit was filed before the fatal shooting of anti-ICE protester Alex Pretti by federal agents, which further inflamed tensions.
The denial of the injunction highlights the legal obstacles blue states face when trying to block federal enforcement actions under Trump’s new executive orders. With litigation ongoing and the White House doubling down on immigration crackdowns, the standoff between Minnesota officials and federal agents appears far from over.
The post Fed Judge Denies Minnesota Injunction To Stop ICE Surge appeared first on Real News Now.
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