Judge rejects Minnesota’s restraining order
Federal Judge Kate Menendez on Saturday denied Minnesota’s motion for a temporary restraining order to halt “Operation Metro Surge.” Court documents said Minnesota and its cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, failed to meet the legal burden of proof.
Minnesota argued that the federal operation “causes harm to the Twin Cities and State themselves, as well as their residents.” The U.S. Department of Justice labelled the lawsuit “legally frivolous.”
Menendez cited an Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals case that overturned an injunction restricting federal agents’ use of force on peaceful protesters. She wrote, “If that injunction went too far, then halting the entire operation certainly would.” The judge added that both sides presented evidence supporting their arguments, leaving the likelihood-of-success factor unclear.
City leaders react
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticised the ruling:
“Of course, we’re disappointed. This operation has not brought public safety. It’s brought the opposite and has detracted from the order we need for a working city. It’s an invasion, and it needs to stop.”
Minnesota and the Twin Cities had sought the order against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other Trump administration officials.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi hailed the ruling on X as “another HUGE” legal win for the Justice Department.
State claims federal overreach
Minnesota argued that the Trump administration violated the 10th Amendment, infringing on police power and unlawfully coercing state cooperation. The state alleged the operation targeted Minnesota uniquely and aimed to access voter rolls.
Court filings also detailed disruptions to local life, including closed schools, healthcare delays, and impacts on businesses and religious services. Minnesota claimed federal officers’ presence and use of force negatively affected student attendance and focus.
Trump administration defends operation
The administration argued “Operation Metro Surge” targets dangers from illegal immigration, worsened by sanctuary city policies. A 34-page lawsuit filed in 2025 claimed Minnesota officials endangered residents by allowing illegal aliens to bypass legal processes. The DOJ said the operation strictly enforces federal law in line with Trump’s campaign promises.
Deaths and protests escalate tensions
The operation has already caused fatalities. U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37, were killed by federal agents this month, sparking daily protests. Protesters outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building voiced broader opposition to ICE and federal immigration policies.
Trump officials issued mixed messages following Pretti’s death, initially vowing to continue the operation before announcing a drawdown. On Friday, federal authorities arrested former CNN anchor Don Lemon during a protest coverage incident; Lemon vowed to fight the charges.
Menendez notes harm to residents
Judge Menendez acknowledged widespread disruption to Minnesotans’ daily lives. She cited evidence of racial profiling, excessive force, and negative impacts on schools, small businesses, and emergency response times.
“It would be difficult to overstate the effect this operation is having on the citizens of Minnesota,” she wrote.
Source: CBC News/NBC News
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