A federal judge just handed Minnesota Democrats a legal reality check they clearly were not expecting. On Saturday, U.S. District Judge Katherine M. Menendez denied a request to immediately shut down Operation Metro Surge, the Trump Administration’s massive immigration enforcement effort in Minnesota. The ruling allows the operation to continue while the broader lawsuit grinds on, and it sends an unmistakable message that political outrage is not the same thing as a constitutional violation.
The lawsuit was filed by the State of Minnesota along with the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, all of whom wanted the court to pull the plug on the operation right now. They argued that Operation Metro Surge violates the Tenth Amendment by infringing on state sovereignty and improperly pressuring local governments to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. In other words, sanctuary jurisdictions claiming victimhood because the federal government is enforcing federal law.
Judge Menendez, a Biden appointee no less, was not buying it. In her 30 page order, she stressed that a preliminary injunction is an extraordinary remedy and that the plaintiffs failed to meet the high bar required to justify it. She made clear that the court was not ruling on whether the operation is wise or politically sound, only that the plaintiffs had not shown a likelihood of success or irreparable harm sufficient to stop it immediately.
Operation Metro Surge began late last month and involves more than 2,000 agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. The administration has described it as the largest immigration enforcement operation in U.S. history. That scale alone has clearly rattled local officials who have spent years advertising their refusal to cooperate with federal immigration law.
The Department of Justice did not mince words, calling the lawsuit legally frivolous and politically motivated. The government argued, correctly, that immigration enforcement is a core federal responsibility and that state objections do not override that authority. Judge Menendez agreed, noting that while the operation is large, it squarely fits within federal prerogatives.
This ruling lands in the middle of a tense period for Minnesota. It comes after days of unrest following the shooting of Alex Pretti, an anti ICE agitator who was shot while assaulting federal agents and attempting to draw a firearm. That detail was often buried under activist talking points, but it matters. The chaos that followed did real damage to businesses and public safety.
After weeks of rioting and pressure from business leaders, Gov. Tim Walz quietly changed his tune. Walz contacted President Trump and agreed that local police would assist in defending federal facilities, hotels, and other buildings under siege. That cooperation came only after the situation spiraled.
Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison say they will continue pursuing the lawsuit, claiming public safety as their motivation. That argument rings hollow when the same officials spent years undermining immigration enforcement and tolerating disorder.
Saturday’s ruling is a win for President Trump and a reminder that sanctuary politics do not override the Constitution. Federal law still exists. Federal authority still matters. And courts are not obligated to play along with state level tantrums dressed up as legal theory.
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