A federal judge on Saturday denied a state government request to block the Trump administration's deployment of thousands of federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In a ruling, District Court Judge Katherine Menendez stated that the immigration enforcement operation 'has had, and will likely continue to have, profound and even heartbreaking consequences on the State of Minnesota.' However, she emphasized that state officials had not proven the illegality of the Trump administration's surge of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the area.
The ruling comes amid nationwide protests following the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal agents. Demonstrators rallied in cities across the United States on Friday, including New York, Chicago, and Washington D.C., and are expected to gather again in Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon. The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have sparked significant public outcry and bipartisan criticism.
Earlier on Friday, the US Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation into Pretti's death, making him the second Minneapolis resident shot and killed by ICE agents since their deployment. Judge Menendez mentioned evidence of racial profiling and excessive use of force by federal agents, but noted a lack of metrics to determine when lawful enforcement crosses into overreach.
Nationwide protests dubbed the National Shutdown called for a collective stand against ICE funding, urging participants to refrain from work and school. Organizers also planned to form the letters 'SOS' on a frozen lake in Minnesota. Amid these events, President Trump insisted on maintaining safety and continuing the enforcement efforts, which focus on the arrest of serious criminal undocumented immigrants. Local leaders have demanded the withdrawal of federal agents amid growing unrest in the state.
The ruling comes amid nationwide protests following the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal agents. Demonstrators rallied in cities across the United States on Friday, including New York, Chicago, and Washington D.C., and are expected to gather again in Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon. The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have sparked significant public outcry and bipartisan criticism.
Earlier on Friday, the US Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation into Pretti's death, making him the second Minneapolis resident shot and killed by ICE agents since their deployment. Judge Menendez mentioned evidence of racial profiling and excessive use of force by federal agents, but noted a lack of metrics to determine when lawful enforcement crosses into overreach.
Nationwide protests dubbed the National Shutdown called for a collective stand against ICE funding, urging participants to refrain from work and school. Organizers also planned to form the letters 'SOS' on a frozen lake in Minnesota. Amid these events, President Trump insisted on maintaining safety and continuing the enforcement efforts, which focus on the arrest of serious criminal undocumented immigrants. Local leaders have demanded the withdrawal of federal agents amid growing unrest in the state.
