Minnesota Advances Lawsuit Over 2025 Immigration Surge Despite Agent Exit
Minnesota pressed forward in January 2026 with a federal lawsuit against DHS over the 2025 immigration surge.
Why it matters: This case challenges federal immigration enforcement tactics and could affect precedent on state-federal authority, vital for legal professionals advising on immigration and governmental compliance.
- December 2025: Trump administration deployed 3,000 federal immigration agents to Minnesota under Operation Metro Surge.
- January 12, 2026: Minnesota sued DHS alleging constitutional breaches and political retaliation related to the surge.
- June 2026: Federal court blocked DHS subpoenas targeting Minnesota officials for refusing cooperation, citing coercion.
- August 2026: Minnesota sued Texas Governor Greg Abbott to extradite ICE agent Christian Castro, accused of shooting a migrant.
In December 2025, the Trump administration launched Operation Metro Surge, deploying about 3,000 federal immigration agents to Minnesota, marking the largest surge in U.S. history. The surge resulted in thousands of arrests, including 131 U.S. citizens and 4,674 noncitizens; 40% of those noncitizens had prior criminal records.
On January 12, 2026, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and related agencies. The suit alleges violations of the First and Tenth Amendments, the Equal Sovereignty Principle—meaning no state should be treated differently under the law—and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which governs federal agency processes. Minnesota accuses DHS of using immigration enforcement for political retaliation (AG announcement).
The operation triggered serious incidents, including the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the injury of Venezuelan migrant Julio César Sosa Celis. In March 2026, Minnesota prosecutors filed a suit to compel federal cooperation in obtaining evidence related to these shootings (Minnesota Reformer report).
In June 2026, a federal court quashed DHS subpoenas seeking documents from Minnesota officials, ruling these were coercive efforts to force state support in federal immigration enforcement and retaliate against officials who declined (AG press release).
Though federal agents withdrew months prior, Minnesota continues active litigation. In August 2026, Minnesota sued Texas Governor Greg Abbott to enforce extradition of ICE agent Christian Castro, accused of shooting a migrant during the surge (El Pais coverage).
Attorney General Ellison stated, "We allege that DHS’s excessive and lethal force, warrantless and racially biased arrests, and targeting of courts, churches, and schools violate the Administrative Procedures Act's safeguards against arbitrary federal actions." This case highlights the legal and constitutional tensions between state sovereignty and federal immigration enforcement.
By the numbers:
- 3,000 agents — deployed in Minnesota during Operation Metro Surge in December 2025
- 4,805 arrests — including 131 U.S. citizens and 40% of noncitizens with criminal records
- June 2026 — federal court blocked DHS subpoenas against Minnesota officials
Yes, but: While the lawsuit frames federal enforcement as politically motivated, DHS and federal officials dispute these allegations, emphasizing national immigration law enforcement priorities.
What's next: A federal court hearing on Minnesota’s suit against DHS is scheduled for late 2026, potentially shaping future limits on federal immigration enforcement tactics.