MINNEAPOLIS (RTW) — The Trump administration is urging the dismissal of Minnesota's lawsuit aimed at halting a recent surge in immigration enforcement that has caused turmoil in Minneapolis and St. Paul for several weeks.
The Justice Department labeled the lawsuit as legally frivolous, asserting that the Department of Homeland Security is operating within its legal bounds while enforcing immigration laws. They cited the successful arrests of over 3,000 individuals allegedly without legal status under Operation Metro Surge.
“Simply put, Minnesota is attempting to exercise a veto over federal law enforcement,” Justice Department attorneys argued.
Countering this, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison claimed the federal government’s actions infringe upon constitutional rights, including free speech, labeling the immigration sweeps as an unchecked “invasion” that must stop.
The lawsuit, filed on January 12, seeks to impose restrictions on these enforcement actions. As further legal maneuvering takes place, U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez is yet to announce a timeline for a ruling.
Ilan Wurman, a constitutional law expert at the University of Minnesota, expressed skepticism regarding the efficacy of the state’s arguments.
“Federal law is clear, and immigration enforcement falls within the purview of the federal government, which can allocate resources as deemed necessary,” Wurman stated.
Julia Decker from the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota voiced concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the government’s arrest statistics, noting that U.S. citizens have reportedly been wrongfully detained during the operation.
“We are dealing with real lives, and the ambiguity surrounding their status is alarming,” said Decker.
In a related case, Judge Menendez emphasized that peaceful protesters cannot be unjustly detained or subjected to tear gas by federal officers.
The unrest intensified following the January 7 shooting incident involving an immigration officer and a woman named Renee Good, who was killed under questionable circumstances as federal agents conducted operations in the area.
In the wake of these events, the community has exhibited significant defiance against federal agents, culminating in protests that often lead to confrontations. Despite this, there have been allegations of excessive force utilized by enforcement officers during these skirmishes.
President Donald Trump recently suggested he might activate an 1807 law to deploy federal troops to Minnesota but appeared to backtracked on this threat afterward.
