A federal judge on Saturday declined to temporarily block Operation Metro Surge, allowing the federal government’s large-scale immigration enforcement action in Minnesota to continue while a broader legal challenge proceeds.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez denied Minnesota officials’ request for a temporary restraining order, despite acknowledging what she described as “profound and even heartbreaking” impacts on communities across the state.
In her ruling, Menendez said those harms must be weighed against the federal government’s authority to enforce immigration law.
“The Eighth Circuit has recently reiterated that an entry or injunction barring the federal government from enforcing federal law imposes significant harm on the government,” she wrote.
Minnesota officials argued that Operation Metro Surge violates the Constitution’s Tenth Amendment by coercing the state into abandoning so-called sanctuary policies and pressuring local authorities to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Menendez said the state’s arguments were not strong enough at this stage to justify halting the operation.
“The inferences to be drawn regarding the allegedly coercive purpose of Operation Metro Surge are not as one-sided as plaintiffs suggest,” she wrote, rejecting claims that the operation was being conducted “in brazenly lawless ways” to force changes in state and local law.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement that his office was disappointed by the ruling but would continue to pursue the case.
“History is on our side and Minnesotans are meeting its call,” Ellison said. “I will keep matching your bravery.”
Ongoing political and community tensions
The Trump administration began Operation Metro Surge in December, deploying approximately 3,000 federal immigration agents to the Twin Cities region. Federal officials say more than 3,000 undocumented immigrants have been arrested since the operation began.
The crackdown has drawn widespread backlash following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens this month during encounters with federal immigration agents. The deaths sparked daily protests across the Twin Cities and intensified criticism from state and local leaders.
Outside a federal building that houses an immigration detention facility, demonstrators said the court’s decision would not address what they view as deeper systemic issues.
“As long as ICE exists as an institution, it will be a problem,” one protester said.
The Trump administration has sent mixed signals about the future of the operation. After initially vowing to expand enforcement following one of the fatal shootings, federal officials later announced an internal investigation. On Thursday, border enforcement officials said the operation would be scaled back, and President Donald Trump spoke with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz earlier this week.
Tensions escalated again Friday when former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested in connection with coverage of a protest at a St. Paul church earlier this month. Lemon has said he plans to fight the charges.
On Saturday, Trump criticized Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota in social media posts, further inflaming political tensions.
Judge cites widespread disruption
In her ruling, Judge Menendez acknowledged evidence presented by the state showing significant disruption to daily life in Minnesota. She noted allegations of racial profiling, excessive use of force, and other harmful conduct by federal agents — claims the federal government did not directly rebut in its filings.
“Defendants do nothing to refute the negative impacts described by plaintiffs in almost every arena of daily life,” Menendez wrote.
She cited increased police overtime costs, declining school attendance, delayed emergency responses, and severe economic hardship for small businesses.
“It would be difficult to overstate the effect this operation is having on the citizens of Minnesota,” she added.
The broader lawsuit challenging Operation Metro Surge will continue as the enforcement action remains in effect.