Minnesota Sues Trump Administration Over Massive Immigration Operations

The state of Minnesota and its Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul have sued the Trump administration in an attempt to stop a massive federal immigration operation that local leaders say has thrown the daily lives of its residents into turmoil and crossed constitutional lines.

What does the lawsuit say?

The lawsuit, which was filed on Monday, asks a federal judge to halt the surge of immigration agents sent into the state under what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) calls Operation Metro Surge. State officials describe the effort as an unprecedented show of force that amounts to a “federal invasion” and accuse Washington of overriding Minnesota’s authority to protect its residents.

Attorney General Keith Ellison said the deployment has disrupted communities, put strain on the local police, and left residents fearful. “This has to stop; it just has to stop,” he said while announcing the lawsuit. Ellison argues that heavily armed, masked agents have carried out warrantless arrests and targeted everyday places like schools, churches, and courts, creating widespread panic.

Tensions on the rise after fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by ICE Agent in Minneapolis

Tensions escalated after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, who was killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis last week. Federal officials say Good tried to run over agents with her car, a claim that has been disputed by local leaders who argue that the deadly force used by Ross was unnecessary. The FBI is investigating, but state officials say they have been sidelined from the investigation.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has accused agents of racial profiling and indiscriminate enforcement, saying residents are being questioned or detained based on assumptions about their immigration status. He said the operation has driven up emergency calls and forced city police into overtime just to respond to ICE-related incidents. Frey warned that the crackdown has led to schools closing, businesses shutting their doors, and has left families afraid to leave home.

According to DHS, around 2,000 federal agents are already operating in Minnesota, with roughly 1,000 more expected to be deployed to the state. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has defended the amount of agents being sent to Minnesota, saying more agents are needed to keep officers safe during operations. DHS has dismissed Minnesota’s lawsuit as “baseless,” arguing that local Democratic leaders have failed to cooperate on immigration enforcement.

Illinois and Chicago also file lawsuits against Trump Administration

The legal fight in Minnesota comes as the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago filed a similar lawsuit on Monday, accusing federal agencies of flooding Democratic-led areas with military-style personnel. Both lawsuits argue that the federal government is violating states’ rights under the Constitution.

Minnesota officials say the state’s immigrant population is relatively small compared with the national average, fueling claims that the operation is politically motivated. Ellison suggested the state is being singled out because of its Democratic leadership and past clashes with President Trump.

As protests continue and more agents arrive, local leaders are calling for an independent investigation into Good’s death and for federal authorities to scale back their presence. For now, the lawsuit sets the stage for a broader showdown over immigration enforcement, federal power, and the limits of aggressive policing in US cities.