A federal judge on Saturday denied a state government request to block the Trump administration's deployment of thousands of federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In a ruling, District Court Judge Katherine Menendez stated that the immigration enforcement operation has had, and will likely continue to have, profound and even heartbreaking, consequences on the State of Minnesota. However, she noted that state officials had not proven that the surge of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents was unlawful.
This ruling comes as thousands nationwide have been protesting the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal agents. Demonstrators have organized events in various cities, including Minneapolis, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, calling for an end to ICE activities.
The tragic deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have sparked significant public outcry and condemnation from lawmakers across the political spectrum. Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, was the second Minneapolis resident to be shot by federal agents since their arrival, following Good's death at the hands of an ICE agent on January 7.
In her ruling, Judge Menendez acknowledged evidence of racial profiling and excessive use of force by ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents, but stated that the state officials failed to present a clear criteria for when lawful law enforcement actions may cross into unlawful practices.
Protest organizers are calling for a National Shutdown on January 30, urging citizens to refrain from work, school, and shopping to pressure the government to cease funding ICE. Demonstrators in Minneapolis have engaged in creative protests, forming the letters SOS on a frozen lake.
As of Thursday, officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have asserted that their operations are focused on arresting serious criminal illegal aliens, despite criticism that their enforcement strategies are capturing individuals with clean records, including U.S. citizens.
The controversial immigration enforcement operation, referred to as Operation Metro Surge, has generated significant backlash and demands from local officials, such as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, to withdraw federal agents from the city.
