Federal Judge Denies Injunction Against Immigration Enforcement in Minnesota
In a significant legal development, a federal judge has refused to stop the enhanced immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota and the Twin Cities, as a lawsuit challenging the actions continues. This decision highlights the ongoing tensions between state and federal authorities over immigration policies.
A photo of Renee Good is displayed in front of a home on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Minneapolis. Alex Brandon/AP
Judge Katherine M. Menendez rejected a preliminary injunction request from Minnesota’s state Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The lawsuit argues that the Department of Homeland Security is infringing on constitutional rights, seeking urgent judicial intervention to limit the enforcement activity. Federal attorneys, however, have dismissed the lawsuit as “legally frivolous.”
The court’s decision focused on the Minnesota officials’ claim that the federal actions contravene the 10th Amendment, which protects state sovereignty from federal overreach. The judge’s ruling largely hinged on the probability of the plaintiffs’ constitutional argument succeeding in court.
The federal government has justified the operation, termed Operation Metro Surge, as a necessary measure to remove criminal immigrants from the streets, citing challenges posed by local “sanctuary laws and policies.” Meanwhile, state and local leaders contended that the action serves as retaliation after earlier federal attempts to condition federal funding on immigration cooperation were unsuccessful.
The court noted, “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.”
The ruling was met with approval from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who celebrated the decision on social media as “another HUGE” legal victory for the Justice Department.
In related developments, federal officers have been involved in two fatal shootings in Minneapolis: Renee Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
