BREAKING: Minnesota AG Keith Ellison announces lawsuit against DHS, ICE and Border Patrol. “We allege that the obvious targeting of Minnesota for our diversity, for our democracy and our differences of opinion with the federal government is a violation of the Constitution and of federal law.”..

Minnesota AG Keith Ellison Files Lawsuit Against DHS, ICE, and Border Patrol Over “Unprecedented” Immigration Enforcement Surge
In a bold move amid escalating tensions over federal immigration operations, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced on January 12, 2026, that the state—alongside the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul—has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Border Patrol, and several top federal officials.

The suit seeks to immediately halt what Ellison described as an unlawful and unconstitutional “surge” of thousands of federal agents into the state.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Ellison strongly criticized the deployment, calling it “in essence, a federal invasion of the Twin Cities and Minnesota.”
“We allege that the obvious targeting of Minnesota for our diversity, for our democracy and our differences of opinion with the federal government is a violation of the Constitution and of federal law,” Ellison stated. “This has to stop; it just has to stop.”
The lawsuit targets Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale immigration enforcement initiative that began in December 2025 and has involved over 2,000 federal agents—reportedly more than the combined police forces of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The operation was initially justified by DHS as an effort to investigate fraud schemes, including those linked to child care programs in the state’s Somali immigrant community. However, state officials argue it has evolved into widespread, aggressive tactics that terrorize residents, disrupt public safety, and violate constitutional protections.
Key allegations in the complaint include:
Violation of the Tenth Amendment — The surge interferes with state sovereignty by overwhelming local law enforcement, schools, and businesses, forcing them to respond to federal actions rather than focus on community needs.

Excessive and lethal force — Officials cited the fatal shooting of 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent on January 7, 2026, in south Minneapolis as a tragic example of reckless conduct.
Unconstitutional arrests and racial profiling — Reports of warrantless entries, detentions based on appearance or accent, and actions in sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, and daycares.
Retaliatory targeting — The suit claims the operation is politically motivated, punishing Minnesota for its sanctuary policies, diverse population (including a significant Somali community), and opposition to federal immigration priorities.

Ellison noted that states like Texas, Florida, and Utah—with higher undocumented populations—have not faced similar surges, allegedly because they cooperate with federal authorities.
Administrative Procedure Act violations — The deployment is described as arbitrary, capricious, and pretextual.
The filing also highlights the broader impact: schools have shifted to remote learning or closed temporarily, businesses have shuttered due to fear, and local police have logged thousands of overtime hours responding to protests and incidents tied to federal operations. Minneapolis alone estimated over $2 million in overtime costs in just a few days.
DHS has pushed back sharply, with Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stating that “sanctuary politicians like Ellison are the EXACT reason that DHS surged to Minnesota in the first place,” accusing the state of prioritizing politics over public safety.
This lawsuit follows similar actions in other Democrat-led jurisdictions, including a parallel suit filed by Illinois and Chicago on the same day, alleging unlawful tactics during immigration operations.
The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota, requests a temporary restraining order to end the agent surge, declare it unconstitutional, and prohibit further unlawful conduct. It names defendants including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, and Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, among others.
As protests continue in the Twin Cities and the nation watches closely, the case underscores the deepening divide between federal immigration enforcement priorities and state/local resistance in sanctuary jurisdictions. The outcome could set significant precedents for the balance of power between Washington and states on immigration matters. Updates are expected as the court considers the motion for immediate relief.