A federal judge has denied Minnesota's request to halt a Trump administration immigration enforcement operation in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, amid controversy over the fatal shooting of protester Alex Pretti. U.S. District Judge Katherine M. Menendez ruled that the state's arguments lacked sufficient precedent for judicial intervention. The decision allows Operation Metro Surge to continue while the broader lawsuit proceeds.
On Saturday, U.S. District Judge Katherine M. Menendez, a Biden appointee, denied a request from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction against "Operation Metro Surge." The lawsuit, filed in early January, argued that the federal immigration enforcement action in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area violated constitutional protections, including the 10th Amendment's limits on federal power.
Menendez wrote that the plaintiffs sought to extend existing precedent "to the point of novelty," noting that "none of the cases on which they rely have even come close." She expressed reluctance to intervene, stating she was "particularly reluctant to take a side in the debate about the purpose behind Operation Metro Surge" and that there is "no precedent for a court to micromanage such decisions." The judge also found that the balance of harms did not favor an injunction, writing, "Ultimately, the Court finds that the balance of harms does not decisively favor an injunction."
The ruling came amid heightened controversy over the operation, which has sparked protests and national attention. On January 24, federal agents fatally shot 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti during enforcement activities in Minneapolis, prompting a Department of Justice civil rights probe. Trump administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House policy chief Stephen Miller, quickly labeled Pretti a "domestic terrorist" and "would-be assassin." However, video evidence showed Pretti's handgun remained holstered, contradicting claims that he intended to cause "maximum damage."
A bystander video from 11 days earlier depicted Pretti spitting at and kicking an agent vehicle, breaking a tail light, but no weapon was drawn in the fatal incident. Prior to the decision, federal filings dismissed Minnesota's claims as an "absurdity" and "legally frivolous," arguing the 10th Amendment does not allow states to block federal law enforcement. After the ruling, Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X: "Neither sanctuary policies nor meritless litigation will stop the Trump Administration from enforcing federal law in Minnesota."
Menendez's order denies immediate relief but leaves the underlying constitutional claims open for further litigation. The decision highlights the challenges states face in challenging federal immigration actions, ensuring enforcement continues on the ground for now.
