Minnesota officials have asked a federal court to end the Department of Homeland Security’s “Operation Metro Surge” immigration operations immediately, but a federal judge appeared skeptical on Monday that she has the power to grant that sweeping request.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, questioned her ability to end the Trump administration’s federal immigration operations in the Minneapolis area, even as state officials claimed it has led to chaos in the Twin Cities in recent weeks. Menendez seemed concerned that she would be making a policy decision if she granted state officials’ full request for a court to order the end of the operation.
“The state has one set of values around immigration enforcement … the federal government has a different set of values captured in its enforcement,” Menendez said, per CNN. “We’re at risk of asking me to decide who’s right here.”
Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter asked Menendez flatly to end the operation, claiming it is unprecedented and creating unrest. The Minnesota officials’ request comes days after a second fatal shooting involving a federal officer — a Border Patrol agent in the Saturday incident — and a protester, which left the protester dead.
Menendez acknowledged that the situation was chaotic but repeatedly questioned what legal authority she has to stop the federal government’s operation. Carter pointed to a letter sent by Attorney General Pam Bondi to Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) over the weekend, which promised to wind down the operation if the state cooperates with federal immigration enforcement operations by ending its “sanctuary policies” and if it gives the federal government access to the state’s voter rolls. He argued federal officials were attempting to undermine the state’s sovereignty by demanding cooperation in exchange for the removal of the surge of federal immigration officers.
When Menendez’s questioning turned to DOJ lawyer Brantley Mayers, the federal judge centered much of her skepticism on Bondi’s letter and whether it amounted to a quid pro quo.
“It concerns me that Attorney General Bondi’s letter cites three things that are the subject of pending litigation before this court,” Menendez said, per All Rise News. “Is the executive trying to achieve a goal through force that it can’t achieve through the Courts?”
The federal judge ended the hearing without a ruling on Minnesota’s request, saying it may take her time due to the complexity of the situation involving federal immigration operations in the state.
Monday’s hearing comes after another tense weekend in Minnesota as unruly protesters clashed with federal immigration officers, with multiple violent encounters, as state officials continue to oppose the federal government’s operations. Violent interactions on Saturday included the killing of a protester by a Border Patrol agent. A protester also allegedly bit off the finger of a Homeland Security Investigations officer.
President Donald Trump and Walz talked by phone on Monday, and the president appeared optimistic at the prospect of an offramp after weeks of chaos and tension in the Twin Cities. Trump declared in a Truth Social post that the two leaders “seemed to be on a similar wavelength,” and that border czar Tom Homan would talk with Walz about next steps.