Minnesota and its two largest cities, Minneapolis and St Paul, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop the ICE enforcement surge that led to the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a federal officer and sparked protests nationwide.
Issued on: 13/01/2026
By: FRANCE 24
People stand before a makeshift memorial during an "ICE Out of Minnesota" rally and march organised by MIRAC (Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee) on January 10, 2026. © Tim Evans, Reuters
Minnesota and its two largest cities sued the Trump administration on Monday in an effort to stop an immigration enforcement surge that led to the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by a federal officer and triggered outrage and protests across the country.
The state, joined by Minneapolis and St Paul, said the Department of Homeland Security is violating the First Amendment and other constitutional protections. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to halt the enforcement action or limit the operation.
“This is, in essence, a federal invasion of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, and it must stop,” state Attorney General Keith Ellison said at a news conference. “These poorly trained, aggressive and armed agents of the federal state have terrorised Minnesota with widespread unlawful conduct.”
Minnesota and its two largest cities sued the Trump administration on Monday in an effort to stop an immigration enforcement surge that led to the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by a federal officer and triggered outrage and protests across the country.
The state, joined by Minneapolis and St Paul, said the Department of Homeland Security is violating the First Amendment and other constitutional protections. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to halt the enforcement action or limit the operation.
“This is, in essence, a federal invasion of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, and it must stop,” state Attorney General Keith Ellison said at a news conference. “These poorly trained, aggressive and armed agents of the federal state have terrorised Minnesota with widespread unlawful conduct.”
Homeland Security has pledged to deploy more than 2,000 immigration officers to Minnesota and says it has made more than 2,000 arrests since December. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has called the surge its largest enforcement operation ever.
Tensions flared again on Monday, five days after Renee Good was shot in the head by an ICE officer while behind the wheel of her SUV. From a large school walkout to emotional visits to a flower-covered memorial for Good, and agents firing tear gas to disperse crowds, Minneapolis remained on edge in the aftermath of the shooting.
There have been dozens of protests or vigils across the US in recent days to honour the 37-year-old mother of three and to sharply criticise the Trump administration’s tactics.
Since the deployment in the Twin Cities, whistle-blast warnings by activists are commonly heard when immigration agents flood the streets. Witnesses have frequently posted video of federal officers using tear gas to discourage members of the public from following them.
The Minnesota lawsuit accuses the Republican Trump administration of violating free speech rights by focusing enforcement on a progressive state that favours Democrats and welcomes immigrants.
“They’re targeting us based on what we look and sound like. Our residents are scared. And as local officials, we have a responsibility to act,” said St Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, who was born in Laos.
In response, Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin accused Minnesota officials of ignoring public safety.
“President Trump’s job is to protect the American people and enforce the law — no matter who your mayor, governor or state attorney general is,” McLaughlin said. “That’s what the Trump administration is doing; we have the Constitution on our side on this, and we look forward to proving that in court.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly defended the immigration agent who shot Good, saying she and her vehicle posed a threat. That explanation has been widely criticised by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and others, citing videos of the confrontation.
The federal government also faces a new lawsuit over a similar immigration crackdown in Illinois. More than 4,300 people were arrested last year in “Operation Midway Blitz” as masked agents swept the Chicago area. The lawsuit by the city and state says the campaign had a chilling effect, leaving residents afraid to leave their homes.
The Minnesota lawsuit seeks restrictions on certain tactics, among other remedies. McLaughlin called it “baseless”.
Tensions flared again on Monday, five days after Renee Good was shot in the head by an ICE officer while behind the wheel of her SUV. From a large school walkout to emotional visits to a flower-covered memorial for Good, and agents firing tear gas to disperse crowds, Minneapolis remained on edge in the aftermath of the shooting.
There have been dozens of protests or vigils across the US in recent days to honour the 37-year-old mother of three and to sharply criticise the Trump administration’s tactics.
Since the deployment in the Twin Cities, whistle-blast warnings by activists are commonly heard when immigration agents flood the streets. Witnesses have frequently posted video of federal officers using tear gas to discourage members of the public from following them.
The Minnesota lawsuit accuses the Republican Trump administration of violating free speech rights by focusing enforcement on a progressive state that favours Democrats and welcomes immigrants.
“They’re targeting us based on what we look and sound like. Our residents are scared. And as local officials, we have a responsibility to act,” said St Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, who was born in Laos.
In response, Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin accused Minnesota officials of ignoring public safety.
“President Trump’s job is to protect the American people and enforce the law — no matter who your mayor, governor or state attorney general is,” McLaughlin said. “That’s what the Trump administration is doing; we have the Constitution on our side on this, and we look forward to proving that in court.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly defended the immigration agent who shot Good, saying she and her vehicle posed a threat. That explanation has been widely criticised by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and others, citing videos of the confrontation.
The federal government also faces a new lawsuit over a similar immigration crackdown in Illinois. More than 4,300 people were arrested last year in “Operation Midway Blitz” as masked agents swept the Chicago area. The lawsuit by the city and state says the campaign had a chilling effect, leaving residents afraid to leave their homes.
The Minnesota lawsuit seeks restrictions on certain tactics, among other remedies. McLaughlin called it “baseless”.
Anti-ICE pins make red carpet © AP, AFP
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Hundreds of students on Monday walked out of Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, where federal agents had deployed tear gas on students and staff last week. Adults wearing safety vests cleared traffic, and many parents who are Roosevelt alumni arrived wearing old school clothing.
Marchers held signs reading “ICE out” and “Welcome to Panem”, a reference to the dystopian society in "The Hunger Games" book series.
Agents also fired tear gas to disperse a crowd that gathered to see the aftermath of a car crash just a few blocks from where Good was killed. The crowd emerged as agents questioned a man whose car had been rear-ended.
“I’m glad they didn’t shoot me or something,” Christian Molina told reporters.
Standing near his mangled fender, he asked aloud: “Who’s going to pay for my car?”
In St Cloud, 65 miles (104 kilometres) northwest of Minneapolis, hundreds of people gathered outside a strip of Somali-run businesses after news spread that dozens of ICE officers were in the area.
Meanwhile, in Portland, Oregon, federal authorities filed charges against a Venezuelan national who was one of two people shot there by US Border Patrol officers on Thursday. The US Justice Department said the man used his pickup truck to strike a Border Patrol vehicle and fled the scene with a woman.
Both were shot and later arrested. Their injuries were not life-threatening. The FBI said there was no video of the incident, unlike the shooting of Good.
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
Marchers held signs reading “ICE out” and “Welcome to Panem”, a reference to the dystopian society in "The Hunger Games" book series.
Agents also fired tear gas to disperse a crowd that gathered to see the aftermath of a car crash just a few blocks from where Good was killed. The crowd emerged as agents questioned a man whose car had been rear-ended.
“I’m glad they didn’t shoot me or something,” Christian Molina told reporters.
Standing near his mangled fender, he asked aloud: “Who’s going to pay for my car?”
In St Cloud, 65 miles (104 kilometres) northwest of Minneapolis, hundreds of people gathered outside a strip of Somali-run businesses after news spread that dozens of ICE officers were in the area.
Meanwhile, in Portland, Oregon, federal authorities filed charges against a Venezuelan national who was one of two people shot there by US Border Patrol officers on Thursday. The US Justice Department said the man used his pickup truck to strike a Border Patrol vehicle and fled the scene with a woman.
Both were shot and later arrested. Their injuries were not life-threatening. The FBI said there was no video of the incident, unlike the shooting of Good.
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
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