A federal judge will not halt the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis, at least for now. The crackdown is at the center of a national debate, driving the country into a partial government shutdown this weekend as Democrats in Congress demand reforms to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Judge Katherine M. Menendez on Saturday denied a request from state and local officials to immediately stop or scale back “Operation Metro Surge” in the Twin Cities. Instead, Menendez decided to maintain the status quo while the legal battle plays out, noting there is evidence supporting both sides’ arguments. “We are grateful when a court sees that the right thing has been done,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters when asked about the ruling at an unrelated press conference. “We will continue to focus on getting dangerous criminals, murderers, rapists, and drug traffickers out of this country and bringing them to justice.”Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the case is in its beginning stages and he’ll keep fighting in court. Ellison argues the federal operation violates the Constitution’s 10th Amendment, which limits the federal government’s powers to infringe on the sovereignty of states. “We know that these 3,000 immigration agents are here to intimidate Minnesota and bend the state to the federal government’s will,” Ellison said.In a separate ruling on Saturday, a judge ordered the release of a 5-year-old boy and his father, who were detained in a Minneapolis suburb last month. It’s among the cases that have outraged protesters and caught the attention of lawmakers, along with the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens by federal officers. “This weekend, Senate Democrats joined the American people in demanding real change when it comes to ICE and its behavior,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Schumer made the comments on Friday night, hours before Congress missed the deadline to prevent a partial government shutdown. The House could vote to end the funding lapse as early as Monday, but it remains to be seen how much support the Senate’s bipartisan package will receive as it heads to the lower chamber for approval. House Speaker Mike Johnson told Fox News Sunday that he is convinced the House can get the measure approved by Tuesday. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos that Democrats are still evaluating the package and will meet later Sunday to discuss the best path forward. The deal struck between the White House and Senate Democrats funds several federal agencies through September, but only extends Department of Homeland Security funding for two weeks, which is designed to allow more time for negotiations on a list of reforms that Democrats say will put guardrails on ICE agents. Trump declined to weigh in on those demands on Saturday. “We’ll talk about it. It’s not appropriate yet. We have to let a little time go by, but we’ll talk about it,” Trump told reporters. Also on Saturday, Trump said that his administration will not intervene in protests in Democrat-led cities unless they ask for help, an apparent shift from his previous threats to intervene despite local opposition. “I have instructed Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, that under no circumstances are we going to participate in various poorly run Democrat Cities with regard to their Protests and/or Riots unless, and until, they ask us for help,” Trump wrote on social media. “We will, however, guard, and very powerfully so, any and all Federal Buildings that are being attacked by these highly paid Lunatics, Agitators, and Insurrectionists.”
A federal judge will not halt the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis, at least for now.
The crackdown is at the center of a national debate, driving the country into a partial government shutdown this weekend as Democrats in Congress demand reforms to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Judge Katherine M. Menendez on Saturday denied a request from state and local officials to immediately stop or scale back “Operation Metro Surge” in the Twin Cities. Instead, Menendez decided to maintain the status quo while the legal battle plays out, noting there is evidence supporting both sides’ arguments.
“We are grateful when a court sees that the right thing has been done,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters when asked about the ruling at an unrelated press conference. “We will continue to focus on getting dangerous criminals, murderers, rapists, and drug traffickers out of this country and bringing them to justice.”
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the case is in its beginning stages and he’ll keep fighting in court. Ellison argues the federal operation violates the Constitution’s 10th Amendment, which limits the federal government’s powers to infringe on the sovereignty of states.
“We know that these 3,000 immigration agents are here to intimidate Minnesota and bend the state to the federal government’s will,” Ellison said.
In a separate ruling on Saturday, a judge ordered the release of a 5-year-old boy and his father, who were detained in a Minneapolis suburb last month. It’s among the cases that have outraged protesters and caught the attention of lawmakers, along with the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens by federal officers.
“This weekend, Senate Democrats joined the American people in demanding real change when it comes to ICE and its behavior,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Schumer made the comments on Friday night, hours before Congress missed the deadline to prevent a partial government shutdown. The House could vote to end the funding lapse as early as Monday, but it remains to be seen how much support the Senate’s bipartisan package will receive as it heads to the lower chamber for approval.
House Speaker Mike Johnson told Fox News Sunday that he is convinced the House can get the measure approved by Tuesday. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos that Democrats are still evaluating the package and will meet later Sunday to discuss the best path forward.
The deal struck between the White House and Senate Democrats funds several federal agencies through September, but only extends Department of Homeland Security funding for two weeks, which is designed to allow more time for negotiations on a list of reforms that Democrats say will put guardrails on ICE agents.
Trump declined to weigh in on those demands on Saturday.
“We’ll talk about it. It’s not appropriate yet. We have to let a little time go by, but we’ll talk about it,” Trump told reporters.
Also on Saturday, Trump said that his administration will not intervene in protests in Democrat-led cities unless they ask for help, an apparent shift from his previous threats to intervene despite local opposition.
“I have instructed Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, that under no circumstances are we going to participate in various poorly run Democrat Cities with regard to their Protests and/or Riots unless, and until, they ask us for help,” Trump wrote on social media. “We will, however, guard, and very powerfully so, any and all Federal Buildings that are being attacked by these highly paid Lunatics, Agitators, and Insurrectionists.”
