Federal judge denies request to block ICE surge in Minnesota

2 hours agoOttilie MitchellWatch: Nationwide anti-ICE protests draw large crowdsA 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 said the immigration enforcement operation "has had, and will likely continue to have, profound and even heartbreaking, consequences on the State of Minnesota". But, she said, state officials had not proved that the Trump administration's surge of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis was unlawful. The ruling comes as thousands nationwide have taken to the streets to protest the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal agents.Demonstrators are expected to gather on Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis, after protests were also held in cities across the US on Friday, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington DC. Organisers called on Americans to stay home from work and school.The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have caused public outcry across the country, and led to criticism from lawmakers in both parties.The 37-year-old nurse was the second Minneapolis resident shot and killed by federal immigration officials since their arrival in the state. Good, the first, was killed by an ICE agent on 7 January.In her ruling on Saturday, Judge Menendez said there was "evidence that ICE and CBP agents have engaged in racial profiling, excessive use of force, and other harmful actions". But, she said, state officials "have provided no metric by which to determine when lawful law enforcement becomes unlawful commandeering". State and local officials had argued in their lawsuit that Trump's deployment of 3,000 immigration agents despite objections violated the state's sovereignty. Organisers of nationwide protests on Friday, called the National Shutdown, urged "no work. No school. No shopping" on 30 January to send the message to "stop funding ICE".The action was organised over the deaths of Pretti and Good, as well as others killed by ICE, including Silverio Villegas-Gonzales, who was shot by an ICE agent in September 2025, according to the group's website.Protesters formed the letters "SOS" on top of a frozen lake in southern Minneapolis, while one group marched through the streets carrying a large-scale replica of the preamble to the US constitution.Singer Bruce Springsteen also performed a newly released song in honour of Pretti and Good entitled Streets of Minneapolis at a concert in the city. Getty ImagesDemonstrators spell out an SOS signal of distress on a frozen Lake Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis On Thursday, border tsar Tom Homan suggested the Trump administration could "draw down" federal forces in the state if local officials co-operate."We are not surrendering our mission at all. We're just doing it smarter," he said during a news conference. Homan began leading on-the-ground efforts in Minneapolis after it was announced Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino would be leaving the area.US President Donald Trump said on Thursday evening: "We will keep our country safe, we'll do whatever we can to keep our country safe." About 3,000 federal agents were sent to Minnneapolis at Trump's directive.The DHS has said it was arresting the "worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens" in an effort to restore public safety in Minnesota, but critics argue migrants with clean records and US citizens are being caught up in the campaign.Dubbed Operation Metro Surge, the immigration enforcement initiative has sparked outcry from residents in Minneapolis, St Paul and other cities in the state.Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have called on federal agents to withdraw from Minneapolis.Getty Images