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.
District Court Judge Katherine Menendez stated that the immigration enforcement operation has had, and will likely continue to have, profound and even heartbreaking consequences for the state. However, she concluded that state officials had not proven the legality of the Trump administration's surge of ICE agents was unlawful.
This ruling comes in the context of nationwide protests against ICE, following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents. Demonstrators have gathered in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities, calling for an end to ICE's actions and urging citizens to refrain from work and school as part of the National Shutdown campaign.
The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti prompted outrage and have led to criticisms from lawmakers of both parties. Earlier on Friday, the U.S. Justice Department launched a civil rights investigation into Pretti’s death, marking the second instance of a Minneapolis resident being killed by immigration officials since their intensified presence in the state.
Though Judge Menendez referenced evidence of racial profiling and excessive force by ICE agents, she indicated that state officials failed to provide a metric to distinguish lawful law enforcement from unlawful commandeering. Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have reiterated calls for the withdrawal of federal agents from the region.
On the streets, protesters formed the letters 'SOS' on a frozen lake in Minneapolis, showcasing their distress over current ICE operations. Additionally, singer Bruce Springsteen performed a newly released song honoring both victims during a concert in the city.
