Federal Judge Denies Minnesota Request To Halt ‘Operation Metro Surge’

A federal judge on Saturday denied a request from Minnesota officials to immediately halt “Operation Metro Surge,” allowing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement campaign to continue across the state and the Twin Cities.In a ruling, U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez rejected the motion for a preliminary injunction filed earlier this month by State Attorney General Keith Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The plaintiffs had argued that the Department of Homeland Security was violating constitutional protections, specifically the 10th Amendment, which limits federal infringement on state sovereignty. Judge Menendez ruled that the state and cities had failed to meet the “high legal bar” required to block a federal law enforcement operation at this stage of litigation. She noted that the plaintiffs “have not met their burden” for what she described as the “extraordinary remedy” of a preliminary injunction.“Because there is evidence supporting both sides’ arguments as to motivation and the relative merits of each side’s competing positions are unclear, the Court is reluctant to find that the likelihood-of-success factor weighs sufficiently in favor of granting a preliminary injunction,” Judge Menendez wrote in the order.Following Saturday’s ruling, Attorney General Pam Bondi took to social media to celebrate the decision, calling it “another HUGE” legal win for the Justice Department.The legal battle highlights the escalating conflict between federal immigration authorities and Minnesota’s Democratic leadership. The lawsuit alleged that the surge was retaliatory, launched after federal attempts to withhold funding to force immigration cooperation failed. Conversely, the federal government argued that “Operation Metro Surge” is necessary to remove criminals and that their efforts have been hindered by state and local “sanctuary laws and policies.” Lawyers with the Department of Justice described the lawsuit as “legally frivolous.”Launched in early December 2025, the operation involves the deployment of thousands of immigration enforcement agents. According to government filings, it has resulted in some 3,000 arrests.While many of those arrested have no criminal record, DHS clarified in a statement Thursday that the operation is aimed at “criminal illegal aliens,” including sex offenders, violent assailants, and drug traffickers.Minnesota has become a flashpoint in the resistance to federal immigration enforcement. Scrutiny of the operation intensified following the fatal shootings of two individuals by federal officers: Renee Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24.Amid the unrest, President Trump dispatched “border czar” Tom Homan to the state this week to take command of the operation and meet with Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis. Mr. Homan pushed back against speculation that the administration was softening its stance.“To set the record straight, because my staff said they’ve seen a lot of people that say President Trump’s backing off on his promise of mass deportation — that’s just untrue,” Mr. Homan said on Fox News on Friday. “For people that want to misinterpret what President Trump sending me to Minneapolis means, then you’re not paying attention.”

Federal Judge Denies Minnesota Request To Halt ‘Operation Metro Surge’

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