Federal judge denies Minnesota request to halt ICE Operation Metro Surge

U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez denied Minnesota's request for a temporary restraining order against Operation Metro Surge on January 31, ruling that the state, city of Minneapolis, and city of Saint Paul had not met the high legal bar required for emergency injunctive relief against federal immigration enforcement. Menendez acknowledged the operation had "profound and even heartbreaking" consequences but found insufficient evidence of legal violations to justify halting federal enforcement. The lawsuit alleging Minnesota was being targeted for political reasons continued.