Judge allows Minnesota immigration operation to continue

A U.S. federal judge on Saturday denied Minnesota’s request to immediately halt a large-scale federal immigration enforcement operation, allowing “Operation Metro Surge” to continue. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez acknowledged the “profound and even heartbreaking consequences” for communities but ruled that the state and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul had not met the legal standard to block the operation.

Launched in December 2025, the operation involves about 3,000 federal agents in Minnesota’s Twin Cities and has resulted in roughly 3,000 arrests. The state argued the deployment violated the 10th Amendment, but Menendez said existing legal precedent does not support halting the operation, despite evidence of racial profiling, excessive force, and disruptions to daily life. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi called the ruling a legal victory, while Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey expressed disappointment. The broader lawsuit will continue.

Credit – CGTN