Archive · 1 Feb 2026
Judge Upholds Trump's ICE Surge in Minnesota
A federal judge in Minnesota decided not to stop President Trump's plan to send more immigration agents to the state.
The state's attorney general said the agents are doing things like racial profiling and scaring people.
The Trump administration says they are just following the law.
There have been protests because two people were killed by these agents.
The judge said she couldn't stop the whole operation because another court already decided against a smaller stop.
The Trump administration is happy with the decision, but the state says it's not fair.
A federal judge refused to halt President Trump’s immigration enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis.
Minnesota officials accused federal agents of racial profiling, unlawful detentions, and heavy-handed tactics.
The Trump administration defended the operation as necessary to enforce federal immigration laws.
Protests erupted in Minneapolis-St. Paul following the killings of two US citizens by federal agents.
The judge noted that a federal appeals court recently overturned a narrower injunction curtailing ICE tactics in Minnesota.
- Who
- US District Judge Kate Menendez, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Trump Administration
- What
- Federal judge refuses to halt Trump’s ICE surge in Minnesota
- When
- Recent decision, with ongoing operations and protests
- Where
- Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
- Why
- To enforce federal immigration laws and control crime, according to the Trump Administration; accused of political motivation and civil rights abuses by Minnesota officials
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison
Trump Administration
Tactics and Civil Rights
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison
Accuses federal agents of racial profiling, unlawful detentions, and stoking fear with heavy-handed tactics.
Trump Administration
Defends the operation as necessary to enforce federal immigration laws and control crime.
Motivation for Minnesota Focus
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison
Claims the Trump administration is targeting Minnesota due to its Democratic political leanings.
Trump Administration
Denies political motivation, asserting the operation is part of broader immigration enforcement policies.
- Judge's Decision
- Denied halt to Trump’s immigration enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis
- Federal Agents Deployed
- Thousands of immigration agents sent to Minneapolis-St. Paul
- Fatal Shootings
- Two US citizens killed by federal agents in Minneapolis
- Attorney General's Accusations
- Racial profiling, unlawful detentions, and heavy-handed tactics
- Trump Administration's Stance
- Operation aimed at enforcing federal immigration laws
- Protests
- Weeks of protests following the killings and increased ICE presence
- Federal Appeals Court
- Recently overturned a narrower injunction curtailing ICE tactics in Minnesota
- US Attorney General's Response
- Called the ruling a 'HUGE' win for the Justice Department
Sources
ICE expands power of US agents to arrest people without warrants amid Trump's immigration crackdown: Report
Minneapolis tensions deepen again as Trump accuses mayor of ‘playing with fire’
ICE arrests of Indian nationals doubled in 2025 amid Trump’s immigration crackdown
'Sanctuary Cities' On Front Line Of Trump Immigration Crackdown
‘Full-on fascist attack on US citizens’: Thousands of protesters rally behind ‘No ICE’ agenda in Minneapolis
US federal judge declines to halt Donald Trump’s Minnesota ICE surge
ICE immigration crackdown to continue in Minneapolis after judge declines halt request
US federal judge refuses to halt Trump’s ICE surge in Minnesota
Stay Away from Protests in Democratic-Led Cities Unless Asked for: Trump to DHS