Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, representing the State of Minnesota and in collaboration with the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, has initiated a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other affiliates, aiming to terminate the recent increase of DHS agents in the state. The lawsuit asserts that the surge is unconstitutional and calls for a temporary restraining order due to the immediate detriment to the state and its cities, as reported by official sources.
The operation titled "Operation Metro Surge" which kicked off in December 2025, has seen thousands of DHS personnel, including those from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), executing militarized raids in the Twin Cities. Ellison described the consequence of these actions, stating that "People are being racially profiled, harassed, terrorized, and assaulted."
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her echoed these sentiments, both underscoring the negative impact on public safety and local communities. Frey mentioned the necessity to act when "federal actions undermine public safety," while Her highlighted the invasion of neighborhoods, which has left residents in fear.
Some of the repercussions of the DHS presence have been severe, including the shutdown of schools, businesses experiencing a significant dip in revenues, and local law enforcement being overburdened with maintaining order. The Minneapolis Police Department has tracked over 3,000 hours of overtime in response to these events, with taxpayers shouldering an estimated cost exceeding $2 million for a period of just a few days. Such details were surfaced by officials.
The coalition argues the surge not only infringes upon the Tenth Amendment, which reserves certain powers to the states, but also violates the Administrative Procedure Act's prohibition against arbitrary and capricious actions by federal agencies. They contend the targeting of Minnesota is motivated by political retribution, as suggested by President Trump labeling Minnesota "corrupt" and "crooked" after the state's officials reported election results not in his favor.
In addition to the call to end Operation Metro Surge, the lawsuit demands an end to the alleged unconstitutional behaviors of DHS agents within Minnesota. These include excessive force against peaceful individuals and unlawful detentions, especially in sensitive locations such as schools and hospitals. The state and Twin Cities maintain that such federal overreach and aggressive tactics must be challenged and ceased to protect the rights and safety of Minnesotans.
For further information about the lawsuit, a news conference has been made available, and those interested can stay updated through the city of Minneapolis's government website.
