The state of Minnesota moved to halt President Trump’s immigration enforcement push known as Operation Metro Surge, filing an emergency court challenge aimed at stopping the expanded presence of federal ICE agents. As reported by Fox News, the request places the administration’s actions under immediate judicial scrutiny.
The emergency hearing unfolded amid heightened tensions between federal officers and protesters across the state, particularly following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti earlier this month. Pretti, an ICU nurse who had been participating in demonstrations, was killed during a confrontation involving federal immigration officers and civilians, escalating concerns about public safety and enforcement tactics.
City and state officials argue that the scale and duration of the federal operation have created an unstable environment, prompting the need for immediate court intervention. Their filing seeks a temporary restraining order to pause any further surge of ICE personnel into Minnesota while the case proceeds.
The hearing quickly exposed deeper constitutional concerns
Lawyers representing Minneapolis and the state told U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez on Monday that the deployment of roughly 3,000 ICE agents amounted to an unlawful and unchecked operation. They characterized the federal presence as excessive, arguing that it resembled a standing force rather than a conventional law enforcement effort, among other reporting on the swing-district Democrat’s shift after the shooting, illustrating political fallout.
The state’s legal team said the ongoing operation has generated widespread fear and disruption, calling the situation unprecedented in intensity. Lindsey Middlecamp, an attorney for Minnesota, urged the court to act immediately, pressing for an order blocking any additional ICE officers from entering the state.
At the center of the legal challenge is Minnesota’s claim that the operation violates state sovereignty protections under the 10th Amendment. Another state attorney, Brian Carter, argued that the federal government was attempting to compel state cooperation in ways barred by the Constitution, a point that has also stirred reactions from Republicans who are furious with Trump’s broader plan.
The hearing also focused on a letter sent by Attorney General Pam Bondi to Governor Tim Walz just hours before proceedings began. The letter requested access to Minnesota voter rolls and certain public assistance data, asserting that compliance would help restore order. State attorneys described the letter as coercive, prompting Judge Menendez to question whether the executive branch was attempting to force outcomes it could not secure through the courts.
Department of Justice lawyers declined to provide detailed explanations about the letter, maintaining that the administration’s actions were lawful and aligned with campaign promises to increase immigration enforcement. They argued that the Department of Homeland Security had simply allocated resources toward removing individuals who entered the country illegally.
Judge Menendez adjourned the hearing without announcing when she would rule on the emergency request, though she acknowledged the urgency of the matter. She also questioned how courts should determine when a federal law enforcement response crosses the line into a 10th Amendment violation, leaving the state’s request for immediate relief unresolved.
Published: Jan 26, 2026 08:45 pm