Minnesota and Twin Cities Sue to Halt 'Federal Invasion' of Local Communities
In a dramatic move, the state of Minnesota has filed a lawsuit against the US government and several officials, seeking to halt what it describes as an "unprecedented and unlawful surge" of federal agents in the Twin Cities. The complaint, which was filed in US district court on Monday, alleges that the deployment of thousands of armed federal agents amounts to a constitutional violation and a direct threat to public safety.
The lawsuit targets the US Department of Homeland Security and senior officials, including DHS secretary Kristi Noem. It argues that the operation, dubbed "Operation Metro Surge," is an unlawful commando-style invasion of Minnesota communities far from the border, overwhelming local infrastructure and law enforcement.
"We're not just fighting for our residents' rights; we're fighting to protect our very way of life," said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison at a press conference on Monday. He accused DHS agents of sowing "chaos and terror" across the metro area through warrantless arrests, excessive force, and enforcement actions at schools, churches, hospitals, and other sensitive locations.
The surge has been blamed for school closures and lockdowns, hurting local businesses, and diverting police resources away from routine public safety work. Ellison cited more than 20 ICE-related incidents, including reports of people being pulled into unmarked vehicles by masked agents and vehicles left abandoned in the streets.
One incident that stands out is the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent on January 7. The FBI has assumed sole jurisdiction over the investigation, effectively barring Minnesota authorities from accessing evidence or taking part in the probe, a move state officials say undermines transparency and the integrity of law enforcement.
The lawsuit argues that the federal operation violates the Tenth Amendment, federal administrative law, and long-standing limits on immigration enforcement. It also accuses the Trump administration of "retaliatory conduct based on Minnesota's lawful exercise of its sovereign authority."
Ellison urged journalists to file complaints about their experiences with federal agents, saying, "Part of what our case is about is First Amendment protection. The press is protected by the First Amendment, and it's vitally important in this moment."
This latest development comes as the Trump administration has continued to escalate immigration enforcement operations across the country, drawing criticism from civil rights groups and local officials who say the tactics are overly aggressive and undermine trust between law enforcement and communities of color.
In a dramatic move, the state of Minnesota has filed a lawsuit against the US government and several officials, seeking to halt what it describes as an "unprecedented and unlawful surge" of federal agents in the Twin Cities. The complaint, which was filed in US district court on Monday, alleges that the deployment of thousands of armed federal agents amounts to a constitutional violation and a direct threat to public safety.
The lawsuit targets the US Department of Homeland Security and senior officials, including DHS secretary Kristi Noem. It argues that the operation, dubbed "Operation Metro Surge," is an unlawful commando-style invasion of Minnesota communities far from the border, overwhelming local infrastructure and law enforcement.
"We're not just fighting for our residents' rights; we're fighting to protect our very way of life," said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison at a press conference on Monday. He accused DHS agents of sowing "chaos and terror" across the metro area through warrantless arrests, excessive force, and enforcement actions at schools, churches, hospitals, and other sensitive locations.
The surge has been blamed for school closures and lockdowns, hurting local businesses, and diverting police resources away from routine public safety work. Ellison cited more than 20 ICE-related incidents, including reports of people being pulled into unmarked vehicles by masked agents and vehicles left abandoned in the streets.
One incident that stands out is the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent on January 7. The FBI has assumed sole jurisdiction over the investigation, effectively barring Minnesota authorities from accessing evidence or taking part in the probe, a move state officials say undermines transparency and the integrity of law enforcement.
The lawsuit argues that the federal operation violates the Tenth Amendment, federal administrative law, and long-standing limits on immigration enforcement. It also accuses the Trump administration of "retaliatory conduct based on Minnesota's lawful exercise of its sovereign authority."
Ellison urged journalists to file complaints about their experiences with federal agents, saying, "Part of what our case is about is First Amendment protection. The press is protected by the First Amendment, and it's vitally important in this moment."
This latest development comes as the Trump administration has continued to escalate immigration enforcement operations across the country, drawing criticism from civil rights groups and local officials who say the tactics are overly aggressive and undermine trust between law enforcement and communities of color.
. It seems like we're heading towards a big mess, folks. All these federal agents storming into our communities, taking over schools and hospitals... it's just plain scary. I remember when my kids were in school, I always wanted them to feel safe, not caught up in some high-stakes drama between the feds and local cops.
. We gotta make sure that no one group is above the law or above being held accountable for their actions. It's time to have some tough conversations about how we're gonna handle these kinds of situations in the future 
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gotta feel for all those minnesota folks being invaded by federal agents they're not even on the border! operation metro surge sounds like something straight outta a movie, but reality is way more concerning it's crazy how it's affecting schools, hospitals, and businesses in the twin cities. can't imagine how hard it must be to live under this kind of uncertainty 
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I mean, I know we're talking about a federal lawsuit against the US government here, but it feels like they're literally trampling all over our state's rights and freedoms! 
And let me tell you, I'm not buying the "security" angle - this feels like a blatant power grab to me. 
That's super important for holding those in power accountable, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like immigration enforcement.
Fingers crossed!
but at the same time I think it's awesome that they're taking a stand against this federal overreach 
I mean, can you imagine if every state did the same? It would be like a wave of resistance across America 
and who knows maybe it'll even inspire some change 
I love how passionate he is about this, and the part about First Amendment protection? Yaaas let's not forget about that 
it's so important we keep shining a light on these kinds of issues 
And what's with all these arrests and shootings? Can't we just talk it out instead of resorting to violence? 
The press should be able to report on whatever they want without being intimidated by some masked agents in unmarked vehicles... that's like, basic human rights, right? 
! I mean, come on, thousands of armed agents just showing up in our backyard without so much as a whisper to the locals? It's like something outta a Hollywood action movie, but instead of being exciting, it's downright terrifying 
.
. I mean, what's next? The feds showing up at every town hall meeting and forcing people to shut down their opinions 
. It's time for Minnesota to assert its sovereignty and show that it won't be pushed around by the feds 
. They've always been about using fear and intimidation to get their way 
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we don't need some commando-style invasion in the middle of our city it's like they're not even considering the impact on local businesses and schools and hospitals 
The fact that they're using tactics like warrantless arrests and excessive force is just totally unacceptable 
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. and what's with all the talk about First Amendment protection? shouldn't that be automatic for journalists who just wanna do their job?