U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez Allows Operation Metro Surge to Continue
Menendez on Jan. 31 denied Minnesota's request for an injunction, allowing ICE's Operation Metro Surge to continue after deployment of 3,000 agents.
Overview
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez on Jan. 31 denied Minnesota's request for a temporary restraining order and refused to halt Operation Metro Surge, court documents show.
Operation Metro Surge began in early December 2025 and, according to Department of Homeland Security filings, deployed 3,000 federal immigration agents to the Twin Cities.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul sued DHS and ICE, alleging 10th Amendment violations, racial profiling and unlawful detentions, plaintiffs' filings show.
U.S. citizens Renée Good, 37, and Alex Pretti, 37, were fatally shot by federal immigration authorities on Jan. 7 and Jan. 24 respectively, prompting daily protests and national condemnation, officials confirmed.
Menendez cited the Eighth Circuit's recent stay and said halting the entire operation would impose significant harm on the government, leaving the broader lawsuit and potential further injunctions to play out.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the coverage as a narrative of enforcement overreach and accountability, emphasizing judicial rebukes, protests and civil-rights concerns while giving less space to administration rationales. Language like 'crackdown' and 'serial violator,' prioritized judge and protester voices, and vivid protest scenes collectively highlight legal and human-rights stakes.
Sources (7)
FAQ
Operation Metro Surge is a federal immigration enforcement operation launched by DHS in early December 2025, deploying over 3,000 ICE and other federal agents to the Twin Cities in Minnesota to conduct arrests targeting criminal illegal aliens.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul sued alleging violations of the 10th Amendment, racial profiling, unlawful detentions, First Amendment issues, and retaliation against political opponents.
On January 31, 2026, U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez denied Minnesota's request for a temporary restraining order, allowing Operation Metro Surge to continue, citing the Eighth Circuit's stay and potential harm to the government if halted.
Renée Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by federal immigration agents on January 7, 2026, during protests; Alex Pretti, also 37 and a U.S. citizen, was killed on January 24, 2026, prompting national condemnation and daily protests.
The operation has caused community disruption including fear leading to school absences, avoidance of healthcare and businesses, economic harm, and incidents of excessive force such as tear-gassing and shootings.
History
3 sources