Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, alongside the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, has filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE to halt Operation Metro Surge. The suit, filed on January 12, 2026, labels the deployment of over 2,000 DHS agents in the Twin Cities a “federal invasion” and seeks to restrict arrests, ban raids at sensitive locations like schools and hospitals, and fundamentally challenge federal immigration authority in sanctuary jurisdictions. DHS defends the operation, which has resulted in over 2,000 arrests since December 2025, as a constitutional enforcement effort, while local leaders prioritize establishing legal precedent to block federal enforcement of immigration laws.
Story Snapshot
- Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her filed a federal lawsuit on January 12, 2026, against DHS and ICE to halt Operation Metro Surge.
- The suit labels over 2,000 DHS agents in Twin Cities as a “federal invasion,” seeking to restrict arrests, ban raids at schools and hospitals, and challenge federal immigration authority.
- St. Paul Mayor Her boasts the lawsuit will set precedent keeping feds from enforcing immigration laws, prioritizing sanctuary policies over national security.
- DHS defends the operation, which yielded over 2,000 arrests, as constitutional enforcement to protect Americans from illegal immigration chaos.
- First hearing set for today, January 14, 2026, amid ongoing protests following a fatal shooting by a federal officer.
Lawsuit Targets Trump’s Immigration Enforcement
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison led the filing of Case 0:26-cv-00190 on January 12, 2026, in federal court. Minneapolis and St. Paul joined as plaintiffs against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE, and others. The 80-page complaint demands a temporary restraining order to stop Operation Metro Surge. This deployment sent over 2,000 armed agents to the Twin Cities starting December 2025. Plaintiffs claim violations of the First and Tenth Amendments, equal sovereignty, and the Administrative Procedure Act. They allege excessive force, racial profiling, and disruptions at sensitive sites like schools and hospitals. Local leaders frame the effort as targeting Minnesota’s diversity and progressive politics, echoing past federal tensions in Democrat-led cities.
Operation Metro Surge Secures Borders
DHS launched Operation Metro Surge to enforce immigration laws in sanctuary jurisdictions resisting federal authority. Agents from ICE and CBP conducted raids at job sites, businesses, and other locations, resulting in over 2,000 arrests since December 2025. ICE spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated President Trump’s duty is to protect Americans, affirming constitutional backing for the actions. The operation addresses public safety threats from unchecked illegal immigration, including strained local resources and criminal activity. DHS calls the lawsuit baseless, pledging to continue despite resistance from blue-state officials who prioritize open borders over rule of law.
Local Leaders Prioritize Sanctuary Over Security
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, a Hmong-American born in Laos, declared residents targeted based on appearance and speech, insisting local police handle enforcement. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey highlighted business closures and school lockdowns from the raids. At the January 12 press conference, Ellison called the deployment an unlawful invasion terrorizing communities. Her’s comments signal intent to establish legal precedent blocking federal agents from upholding immigration statutes. This stance undermines national sovereignty, favoring illegal immigrants over American taxpayers burdened by sanctuary policies, fiscal drains, and crime waves.
A federal officer fatally shot a Minneapolis woman during an early January incident, sparking protests where crowds confronted agents. Reports describe chaos with abandoned vehicles, mistaken 911 kidnapping calls, and resource strains on local police. The lawsuit invokes Tenth Amendment anti-commandeering doctrine, citing precedents like Printz v. United States, to argue against federal pressure on state resources. Legal expert Jason Marisam notes claims of ICE violating state rights through arbitrary actions. Twin Cities’ large Somali community faces TPS revocation for about 2,500 individuals, heightening tensions.
Implications for Federal Authority
The suit seeks restrictions like probable cause for all arrests, bans on firearms aimed at non-threats, and halts at sensitive locations. A ruling could limit ICE tactics nationwide, emboldening other sanctuary areas against 2026 enforcement. Short-term, a TRO might pause raids, easing local strains but hindering deportations. Long-term, it risks precedent eroding federal supremacy in immigration, a constitutional mandate. DHS maintains operations protect citizens from invasion-level border failures under prior leftist regimes. Protests continue as the first hearing occurs today, testing balances between state resistance and national security.
Plaintiffs’ motivations center on sovereignty and resident protection, while DHS emphasizes law enforcement amid 2,000 arrests. Political divides sharpen: Trump administration versus Democrat leaders. Economic hits include business shutdowns; social fallout involves fear and lockdowns in immigrant hubs. This challenge highlights frustrations with globalist open-border policies fueling inflation, crime, and overreach that conservatives fought to reverse.
Watch the report: FULL PRESSER: Minnesota Officials Demand End to Operation Metro Surge After ICE Shooting | AC14
Sources:
MN Attorney General, Minneapolis and Saint Paul sue to halt ICE surge into Minnesota
Legal expert: New Minnesota lawsuit argues ICE violates state’s rights | MPR News
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