MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge has determined that the immigration enforcement campaign in Minnesota and the Twin Cities will continue as a lawsuit contesting it moves forward.
Judge Katherine M. Menendez declined a request for a preliminary injunction, which was filed earlier this month by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison along with the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The plaintiffs argue that the Department of Homeland Security’s actions breach constitutional safeguards. However, lawyers from the U.S. Department of Justice have dismissed the lawsuit as “legally frivolous.”
Considerations on Legal Success
The decision regarding the injunction revolved around Minnesota officials’ assertion that the federal government is infringing upon the Constitution’s 10th Amendment, which limits federal power over state sovereignty. The judge’s ruling largely depended on the potential success of this argument in court. The federal government, citing Operation Metro Surge, defends its actions as necessary to remove criminal immigrants, claiming state and local “sanctuary laws and policies” have impeded federal efforts.
Local officials, however, perceive the surge as retaliatory, following unsuccessful federal attempts to withhold federal funding to coerce immigration cooperation. They argue the operation has placed an unconstitutional strain on state and local resources, with schools and businesses closing amid aggressive federal enforcement. Judge Menendez noted, “Because there is evidence supporting both sides’ arguments… the Court is reluctant to find that the likelihood-of-success factor weighs sufficiently in favor of granting a preliminary injunction.”
Criticism of Federal Agencies
Judge Menendez also referenced the federal government’s recent victory at the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which overturned her previous decision limiting force used by immigration officers during peaceful protests in Minnesota. She remarked, “If that injunction went too far, then the one at issue here — halting the entire operation — certainly would.”
Despite the refusal of the injunction, Menendez acknowledged the lawsuit’s strong indications that the surge is profoundly affecting Minnesota residents, citing incidents of shootings by federal officers. She wrote, “Additionally, there is evidence that ICE and CBP agents have engaged in racial profiling, excessive use of force, and other harmful actions.”
Public Reactions to the Decision
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the ruling as a significant legal win for the Justice Department. Concurrently, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressed gratitude for the court’s decision, emphasizing cooperation with local law enforcement and state leaders. Conversely, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey expressed disappointment, stating, “This decision doesn’t change what people here have lived through — fear, disruption, and harm caused by a federal operation that never belonged in Minneapolis in the first place.”
Attorney General Keith Ellison emphasized that the lawsuit is in its early stages, pledging continued efforts to challenge the federal government’s actions. “We know that these 3,000 immigration agents are here to intimidate Minnesota and bend the state to the federal government’s will,” Ellison stated. “That is unconstitutional under the Tenth Amendment and the principle of equal sovereignty.”
Ongoing Protests in Minnesota
Minneapolis remains tense following fatal shootings by federal officers of two residents, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Protests have erupted in Minnesota and nationwide, with thousands demonstrating against federal actions. During a recent gathering in Minneapolis, protestors expressed frustration with the ruling.
Tucker Johnson, a middle school teacher, lamented, “It’s not surprising, but it’s awful… Our students can’t get an education, because they and their families are too scared to go to school. That’s wrong, no matter what the court says.” Similarly, nurse Carrie Schmitt-Jost declared, “Shame on the judge. But it won’t stop us.”
