A federal judge has ruled that Operation Metro Surge, a major immigration enforcement effort led by federal authorities in Minnesota, can continue even as a legal challenge moves forward. On Saturday (January 31), U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez denied a request from state officials to immediately halt the operation, which has brought thousands of federal immigration agents to the Twin Cities and sparked widespread protests.
The judge rejected arguments from Minnesota’s Attorney General and city leaders, who claimed that the operation violates the Constitution’s 10th Amendment and forces the state to abandon its sanctuary policies. Judge Menendez acknowledged the “profound and even heartbreaking” impact on communities, citing evidence of racial profiling, excessive use of force, and hardship for local residents and businesses. However, she wrote that these concerns did not outweigh the government’s interest in enforcing federal law.
The surge began in December when the Trump administration sent 3,000 federal immigration agents to Minnesota. The Department of Homeland Security said the goal was to remove “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens,” though some critics argued that people with no criminal records, as well as U.S. citizens, have been affected. Since then, more than 3,000 undocumented immigrants have been arrested, according to federal officials.
The operation has been especially controversial following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal officers in separate incidents this month. These deaths have led to daily protests in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The Justice Department has launched a civil rights investigation into Pretti’s death.
Minnesota officials argued the surge was retaliation after earlier attempts by the federal government to withhold funding failed. Judge Menendez noted that both sides had evidence to support their views, but ultimately found that the state’s case was not strong enough at this stage to justify a temporary injunction. The full lawsuit against the operation is still ongoing, and the judge could revisit her decision as the case develops.
Meanwhile, community tensions remain high, with daily life in the Twin Cities transformed for many residents. Protests and calls for the federal agents to withdraw continue as the legal and political battles play out.
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