Judge denies Minnesota request to halt federal ICE Operation Metro Surge

A federal decide has denied Minnesota’s request to right away halt U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Operation Metro Surge.

In accordance with Saturday’s ruling, the state and two cities have failed at this stage of the case to fulfill the excessive authorized bar required to dam a federal legislation enforcement operation.

U.S. District Choose Katherine Menendez signed the order, saying the plaintiffs “haven’t met their burden” for the “extraordinary treatment” of a preliminary injunction.

Anti-ICE agitators protest in entrance of the Minnesota State Capitol in response to the demise of Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer on January 14 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Abbie Parr/AP Picture; Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photographs)

The blue state, together with the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, has sued the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) and federal immigration officers in an effort to dam the ICE-led enforcement operation.

The plaintiffs requested the court docket to subject a preliminary injunction to halt the federal operation whereas the case continues.

However Menendez denied that request, ruling that the plaintiffs didn’t meet the excessive authorized commonplace required for such extraordinary reduction.

The town launched an announcement from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on social media after the choice.

“After all we’re disenchanted. This determination doesn’t change what folks right here have skilled: worry, disruption and injury brought on by a federal operation that by no means belonged in Minneapolis within the first place,” Frey wrote.

“This operation has not introduced public security. It has executed the other and undermined the order we’d like for a working metropolis,” he continued. “It’s an invasion and it should cease.”

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Federal legislation enforcement brokers detain an anti-ICE agitator in Minneapolis. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photographs)

Minnesota has grow to be a flashpoint for left-wing resistance to federal immigration enforcement, with Democratic state and native leaders overtly opposing ICE-led raids.

Operation Metro Surge started in early December 2025, when the federal authorities deployed hundreds of immigration enforcement brokers to Minnesota and the Twin Cities.

Operation Metro Surge led to about 3,000 arrests in Minnesota, based on authorities paperwork within the case.

White Home Chief Government Tom Homan holds a information convention Thursday on the Bishop Whipple Federal Constructing in Minneapolis. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Picture)

In an announcement Thursday, DHS mentioned Operation Metro Surge has focused “felony unlawful aliens,” together with convicted murderers, intercourse offenders, violent attackers and drug traffickers arrested in Minnesota.

The deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti have intensified scrutiny and public outrage over enforcement techniques.

White Home Border Czar Tom Homan was despatched to the state this week by President Donald Trump, the place he met with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Frey.

Homan pushed again in opposition to claims that the transfer was a part of a rollback of the administration’s immigration insurance policies, telling Fox Information host Sean Hannity on Friday that there will likely be no change within the mass deportation company.

“To set the file straight, my workers mentioned they’ve seen lots of people saying President Trump is not residing as much as his promise of mass deportation — that is merely not true,” Homan mentioned.

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“For individuals who need to misread what President Trump is sending me to Minneapolis, then you definitely’re not paying consideration,” he added.

Fox Information’ Nora Moriarty contributed to this report.