Judge Declines Emergency Order to Stop ICE Enforcement in Minnesota as Legal Fight Advances
A federal judge on Wednesday refused to immediately intervene in ongoing immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, allowing federal authorities to continue carrying out ICE sweeps while a broader legal challenge moves forward.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez, appointed during the Biden administration, declined to grant an emergency temporary restraining order requested by the State of Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. State and local officials had asked the court to swiftly block what they described as an aggressive expansion of federal immigration enforcement across the state.
During the hearing, Menendez made clear that the court lacked sufficient time to fully evaluate the constitutional and statutory questions raised by the lawsuit, citing the complexity of the issues and the lack of clear precedent limiting federal immigration authority under these circumstances.
Menendez scheduled an expedited briefing schedule, ordering the U.S. Justice Department to file its response by January 19, followed by additional submissions from state officials by January 22. A ruling on the requested restraining order is expected later this month.
“That should not be taken as a prejudgment of the merits of either the plaintiff’s case or the anticipated defense that may be raised by the United States,” Menendez said. “It is simply observing that these are grave and important matters and that they are somewhat frontier issues in constitutional law.”
State leaders, including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, argued that ICE agents have engaged in what they characterized as excessive and unlawful tactics, alleging warrantless arrests and constitutional violations that have undermined public trust. Federal attorneys pushed back, emphasizing that the government had little time to prepare a response and maintaining that the enforcement actions fall squarely within lawful federal authority.
Notably, there remains scant federal precedent supporting efforts by state or local governments to broadly restrain federal agents from carrying out their constitutional and statutory duties anywhere in the United States.
The legal battle unfolds against the backdrop of rising tensions in Minneapolis following the January 7 shooting death of Renee Good during an ICE enforcement action. The incident ignited protests and renewed criticism of federal immigration tactics. Since the enforcement surge began in December, federal authorities have conducted thousands of arrests statewide.
Absent court intervention, ICE operations will continue as planned while the judge weighs whether any restrictions are legally warranted.
Reports also suggest that enforcement activity may be expanding into sensitive locations. According to MPR News, ICE agents have accompanied detainees into hospitals, at times without warrants, and—according to five anonymous Hennepin Healthcare nurses—have attended patient appointments. Meanwhile, an anonymous employee at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport provided FOX 9 with a memo indicating plans for ICE agents to spend several weeks verifying documents of both travelers and airport employees.
Federal officials have also released new details surrounding the January 7 shooting. Authorities confirmed that the ICE agent involved suffered internal bleeding to the torso during the encounter, reinforcing claims that the officer acted in self-defense.
Sources familiar with the matter said the injury occurred after Good’s vehicle struck the agent, identified as Jonathan Ross, a law enforcement veteran with a decade of service. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the injury but declined to release further medical details.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem previously addressed the incident, stating that Ross received immediate medical treatment and was released the same day. “The officer was hit by the vehicle. She hit him. He went to the hospital. A doctor did treat him. He has been released,” Noem said, adding that Ross “acted to protect himself and his fellow agents.”
As the case proceeds, the outcome could have far-reaching implications for federal immigration enforcement authority—particularly under President Donald J. Trump’s administration, which has prioritized restoring law, order, and border integrity nationwide.