A judge denied a motion seeking a preliminary injunction on Saturday to stop immigration officials from deporting illegal immigrants in Minnesota.
U.S. District Judge Katherine M. Menendez refused to grant the injunction sought by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, the city of Minneapolis, and the city of St. Paul.
The lawsuit targeted Department of Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem, John Condon, the acting executive associate director of Homeland Security, and Todd Lyons, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The lawsuit also targeted Acting Executive Associate Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations Marcos Charles, Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Rodney Scott, Customs and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, and as Acting Director, Saint Paul Field Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement David Easterwood.
FEDERAL JUDGE DECLINES TO HALT TRUMP'S MINNESOTA ICE SURGE
— NewsWire (@NewsWire_US) January 31, 2026
JUST IN: Judge Menendez has *denied* the emergency effort by Minnesota to end Operation Metro Surge. https://t.co/JNgN0S9QEw pic.twitter.com/xEGcAcQclG
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) January 31, 2026
gov.uscourts.mnd.230268.135.0 by scott.mcclallen
Federal immigration officials flooded Minneapolis and St. Paul after criminals likely stole around $9 billion in taxpayer benefits across 14 programs.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other state leaders have sued to stop the immigration blitz but have failed so far.
BREAKING: Minnesota Federal Court Judge Kate Menendez has denied the State of Minnesota and Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul's request for a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order to stop Operation Metro Surge. In summary, she did not believe there was enough… pic.twitter.com/8MIW4Jbkx2
— Lou Raguse (@LouNewsMan) January 31, 2026
🚨JUST IN🚨
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) January 31, 2026
A federal judge has rejected Minnesota's bid for an immediate injunction to stop the ICE-led Operation Metro Surge.
In a ruling issued on Saturday, the court determined that the state—along with the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul—did not satisfy the stringent…