Minnesota is escalating its legal battle against the Trump administration following the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent, a tragedy that has ignited protests across the state and the nation. On Monday, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a federal lawsuit aimed at halting the surge of ICE and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents operating in the state, alleging systemic violations of law and civil liberties.
“This is a federal invasion of the Twin Cities and Minnesota, and it must stop”, Ellison declared at a press conference. He argued that the deployment of thousands of armed federal agents has caused significant harm, including school closures, business disruptions, and threats to public safety. Ellison described the surge as “arbitrary and capricious federal actions” in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act, citing warrantless arrests, excessive use of force, and intimidation of residents, courts, houses of worship, and schools.
The lawsuit comes just days after a video of Renee Nicole Good’s shooting circulated widely, galvanizing public outrage. Ellison contrasted the training of local Minneapolis police with that of the federal agents, pointing to at least 20 documented instances in which ICE personnel allegedly detained residents without legal justification. “They’re making unconstitutional arrests and using excessive force”, Ellison said. “DHS agents have barged into restaurants, asking to access secure areas. And when asked to present a warrant, which is required by law, they respond: ‘We don’t need one.’ This has to stop”.
Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter confirmed that a motion for a temporary restraining order would accompany the lawsuit, aimed at immediately curbing the presence of federal agents while the case proceeds through the courts. Ellison emphasized that Minnesota’s immigrant population is relatively small – just 1.5%, half the national average – implying that the federal deployment reflects political targeting rather than public safety concerns.
“The surge is not about safety”, Ellison said. “If the administration’s goal were genuinely to address crime or fraud, there would be other, more precise mechanisms. Instead, residents are being indiscriminately detained from the streets, creating fear and confusion”.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey echoed Ellison’s concerns, warning that the city’s limited police resources, roughly 600 officers, have been stretched to their limits by the federal incursion. “We don’t use the word invasion lightly”, Frey said. “The stated reason of this federal government for bringing in this full invasion of ICE and Border Control is not safety. If it were safety, there would be other mechanisms to achieve it. What we see instead is people being removed arbitrarily from our streets”.
Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, a Hmong-American immigrant, described the personal toll on residents. “I’m now carrying my passport card and ID with me at all times”, she said. “Because I don’t know when I’m going to be detained, when I’m going to be approached. The fact is, we are being attacked as American citizens right now”.
The lawsuit comes as Illinois filed a similar legal challenge against the Trump administration on Monday. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker cited the “dangerous use of force” by federal agents and sought to block US Customs and Border Protection from conducting civil immigration enforcement in the state, including the use of teargas, trespassing, and covert operations such as concealing license plates.
The Minnesota case specifically references an “excessive and lethal” approach to law enforcement. Ellison pointed out that the surge has included not only ICE agents but also broader DHS personnel, deployed in ways that disrupt communities and exacerbate tensions. “Our state has been targeted politically”, Ellison said. “Donald Trump doesn’t seem to like Minnesota very much. And these actions reflect that bias”.
Federal authorities have defended the deployments, claiming that agents are responding to criminal activity and immigration violations. However, local officials and community leaders argue that the heavy-handed tactics are unnecessary, disproportionate, and counterproductive. The recent protests in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, sparked by Good’s death, underscore the deep frustration and fear that many residents now feel.
Ellison urged the public and media to document instances of federal overreach. AC Thompson of PBS Frontline asked whether the lawsuit would address crowd control measures, including the use of pepper spray on journalists covering protests. Ellison encouraged Thompson to submit a formal complaint, emphasizing the importance of protecting press freedoms. The legal battle in Minnesota highlights broader tensions between state and federal authority, raising questions about civil rights, accountability, and the proper limits of immigration enforcement. As the lawsuit moves forward, it is likely to attract national attention, particularly as the presidential administration continues to expand ICE operations in politically sensitive areas.
In the meantime, local leaders continue to grapple with the immediate consequences of the federal surge, from disrupted schools and shuttered businesses to heightened public anxiety. “The people of Minnesota deserve to live without fear of arbitrary detention”, Ellison said. “This administration must be held accountable for its actions. We are taking a stand, and we will not back down”.
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