Court Hearing Set Over Minnesota Lawsuit Challenging Federal 'Operation Metro Surge'

A court hearing is scheduled Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by the State of Minnesota and the Twin Cities seeking to halt a federal immigration enforcement operation they call a "federal invasion." The legal challenge and a flurry of related developments have intensified protests and political debate in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent.

What’s at Issue

The lawsuit asks a federal judge to block federal immigration enforcement activity known as 'Operation Metro Surge,' arguing the operation is not a bona fide law enforcement action and that the Twin Cities were singled out because of local sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration efforts.

Resignations Among Federal Prosecutors

At least six senior career federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned amid reported White House pressure over how investigators should handle the probe into Good's death. Sources say some prosecutors objected to efforts to shift the investigation away from the ICE agent's use of force and toward the victim, her relatives and protesters connected to immigration demonstrations. One of the departing prosecutors, Joseph Thompson, has handled politically sensitive cases in the past.

Investigations and Federal Response

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Department of Justice has not found sufficient evidence to open a criminal civil rights investigation into the ICE agent's conduct. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara criticized that decision. An FBI investigation is ongoing, but local authorities have reportedly been blocked from joining the federal probe.

More Federal Agents Deployed

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino said "hundreds and hundreds" of additional federal officers have been sent to Minneapolis. Officials and sources say this deployment began Friday and continued over the weekend, reportedly adding to roughly 2,000 federal agents already reported in the region.

Protests and Clashes

Protests have continued in Minneapolis. Video footage shows confrontations between federal officers and demonstrators near the site where Renee Good was killed, including an incident in which agents broke a driver's window and pulled a woman from her car. In the Powderhorn neighborhood, federal officers deployed pepper balls and flash bangs to disperse crowds. Protesters have gathered outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, chanting and attempting to block vehicles believed to be carrying ICE personnel.

Policy Moves and Local Impact

The Department of Homeland Security announced it will end Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals in the United States, saying conditions in Somalia no longer justify continued protections. Minnesota leaders criticized the move, saying they were not consulted and warning that the decision, coupled with heightened enforcement and inflammatory rhetoric, is increasing fear in the Somali community and could affect individuals with lawful status and no criminal records.

Political Reaction

President Donald Trump defended ICE officers operating in Minnesota, calling them patriots and warning online that a "day of reckoning and retribution is coming" as more federal agents are dispatched. He also announced plans to stop federal payments to sanctuary jurisdictions beginning Feb. 1, a policy previously blocked by a judge when attempted last year.

What’s Next

The Wednesday hearing will determine whether a court will temporarily halt federal immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities while the legal challenge proceeds. Meanwhile, federal and local investigations continue and tensions in the community remain high.

Reporting contributions: Sharif Paget, Taylor Romine, Evan Perez, Hannah Rabinowitz, Priscilla Alvarez, Emma Tucker, Natasha Bertrand, Haley Britzky and Andy Rose.