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States Sue to Stop Federal Immigration Surge

States Sue to Stop Federal Immigration Surge

Minnesota and Illinois challenge DHS operations as constitutional showdown after fatal shooting

Today: Minnesota and Illinois File Federal Lawsuits

Overview

For decades, states could refuse to help enforce federal immigration law but couldn't stop it. That line is now being tested. On January 13, Minnesota and Illinois filed federal lawsuits seeking injunctions to halt the largest ICE operations ever conducted in American cities—after an agent shot and killed a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis six days earlier.

The lawsuits mark the first time states have sought to physically block ongoing federal immigration enforcement on constitutional grounds, alleging 10th Amendment violations and unlawful use of force. More than 3,500 federal agents are deployed across the Twin Cities and Chicago, with over 5,000 arrests since September. Courts have already ordered hundreds released for unlawful detention—and the Supreme Court blocked National Guard deployment to Chicago. The outcome will reshape the boundaries between federal enforcement power and state sovereignty.

Key Indicators

3,500+
Federal agents deployed
ICE and Border Patrol agents across Twin Cities and Chicago—more than triple Minneapolis police force
5,000+
Total arrests
Combined arrests from Operation Midway Blitz (Chicago) and Operation Metro Surge (Minneapolis) since September 2025
1
U.S. citizen killed
Renee Good, 37, shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026
2
States suing DHS
Minnesota and Illinois filed separate federal lawsuits on January 12-13, 2026

People Involved

Keith Ellison
Keith Ellison
Minnesota Attorney General (Lead plaintiff in Minnesota lawsuit against DHS)
Kwame Raoul
Kwame Raoul
Illinois Attorney General (Lead plaintiff in Illinois lawsuit against DHS)
Kristi Noem
Kristi Noem
Secretary of Homeland Security (Named defendant in both state lawsuits)
Renee Nicole Macklin Good
Renee Nicole Macklin Good
U.S. citizen killed by ICE agent (Deceased (January 7, 2026))
Jacob Frey
Jacob Frey
Mayor of Minneapolis (Co-plaintiff in Minnesota lawsuit)
Tim Walz
Tim Walz
Governor of Minnesota (Put National Guard on alert; announced abandonment of re-election campaign)
Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross
ICE Deportation Officer (Under FBI investigation for fatal shooting)
Kaohly Her
Kaohly Her
Mayor of Saint Paul (Co-plaintiff in Minnesota lawsuit)

Organizations Involved

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Federal Agency
Status: Named defendant in both state lawsuits

The federal department overseeing ICE and Border Patrol, conducting the largest immigration enforcement operations in U.S. history.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Federal Law Enforcement Agency
Status: Conducting enforcement operations; agent involved in fatal shooting

The DHS agency responsible for immigration enforcement and deportation operations.

Timeline

  1. Minnesota and Illinois File Federal Lawsuits

    Legal

    Minnesota (with Minneapolis and St. Paul) and Illinois (with Chicago) file separate federal lawsuits seeking injunctions to halt ICE operations, alleging 10th Amendment violations and unlawful use of force.

  2. DHS Deploys Hundreds More Agents

    Enforcement

    Secretary Noem orders hundreds more agents to Minnesota following days of protests over Renee Good shooting.

  3. Federal-State Cooperation Collapses

    Investigation

    FBI revokes Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's access to evidence, ending joint investigation. Governor Walz puts National Guard on alert.

  4. ICE Agent Kills U.S. Citizen Renee Good

    Incident

    ICE agent Jonathan Ross shoots and kills Renee Good, 37, a U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis. FBI investigation launched. DHS claims self-defense; video evidence disputed.

  5. DHS Announces 'Largest Operation Ever'

    Enforcement

    Secretary Noem participates in Minneapolis arrest operation. DHS announces deployment of 2,000 agents to Twin Cities—the 'largest immigration enforcement operation ever.'

  6. Supreme Court Blocks National Guard in Chicago

    Legal

    U.S. Supreme Court rejects Trump administration's request to deploy National Guard to Illinois, ruling it violates the Posse Comitatus Act.

  7. Operation Metro Surge Begins in Minneapolis

    Enforcement

    DHS launches immigration enforcement operation in Twin Cities with approximately 700 agents.

  8. Appeals Court Stays Chicago Injunction

    Legal

    Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals pauses Judge Ellis's order restricting federal agents' use of force.

  9. Judge Orders Hundreds Released

    Legal

    U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings orders release of hundreds detained by ICE, ruling arrests violated the Fourth Amendment.

  10. Federal Judge Issues Chicago Injunction

    Legal

    U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis issues injunction restricting ICE use of force, finding federal officials lied about threats from protesters.

  11. Chicago Arrests Exceed 1,000

    Enforcement

    DHS announces more than 1,000 arrests under Operation Midway Blitz. Secretary Noem travels to Chicago.

  12. Operation Midway Blitz Begins in Chicago

    Enforcement

    DHS launches immigration enforcement operation in Chicago area with approximately 250 agents, named after Katie Abraham, killed by an undocumented immigrant in Illinois.

Scenarios

1

Courts Grant Injunctions, Operations Halted

Discussed by: Legal analysts at Lawfare and the Brennan Center, citing precedent from the Chicago use-of-force injunction

Federal judges grant temporary restraining orders, then preliminary injunctions, halting or significantly restricting ICE operations in both states. This scenario mirrors Judge Ellis's November 2025 Chicago ruling. The administration appeals, but operations remain constrained during litigation. The 10th Amendment arguments gain traction as courts find federal enforcement exceeded constitutional bounds.

2

Courts Reject State Claims, Operations Continue

Discussed by: Constitutional scholars citing Arizona v. United States (2012) and federal supremacy in immigration law

Federal courts deny the injunctions, ruling that immigration enforcement is exclusively federal authority under Arizona v. United States. The 10th Amendment anti-commandeering doctrine protects states from being forced to participate but doesn't authorize blocking federal action. Operations continue, potentially escalating to other states. This outcome would reinforce federal enforcement authority.

3

Supreme Court Intervenes on State Sovereignty

Discussed by: Constitutional law professors and Supreme Court analysts, noting the Court's December 2025 National Guard ruling

Cases reach the Supreme Court on an expedited basis after conflicting circuit rulings. The Court's December 2025 rejection of National Guard deployment suggests some appetite for limiting executive overreach, but immigration enforcement is a different legal question. A ruling would set precedent for the limits of federal power to conduct mass enforcement operations over state objections.

4

Jonathan Ross Charged in Renee Good Killing

Discussed by: Legal observers at The Marshall Project and The Intercept, analyzing video evidence and past cases

The FBI investigation concludes with federal or state charges against Agent Ross for the Renee Good shooting. Video evidence contradicting DHS's 'self-defense' narrative, combined with political pressure, leads to prosecution. Such charges would be rare—federal agents are rarely criminally prosecuted for on-duty shootings. A conviction would fundamentally alter federal enforcement calculus.

Historical Context

Ruby Ridge (1992)

August 1992

What Happened

U.S. Marshals and FBI agents laid siege to Randy Weaver's cabin in Idaho over firearms charges. An 11-day standoff left Weaver's 14-year-old son Sammy, his wife Vicki, and a U.S. Marshal dead. FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi shot Vicki Weaver while she held her infant daughter.

Outcome

Short Term

Weaver was acquitted of most charges. He and his daughters received $3.1 million in settlement.

Long Term

Senate investigations found 'substantial failures' in federal law enforcement. The incident fueled the militia movement and influenced the Oklahoma City bombing conspirators.

Why It's Relevant Today

Ruby Ridge established lasting public concern about federal agents' use of lethal force and lack of accountability. The Renee Good shooting invokes similar questions about federal agents killing U.S. citizens—and whether state or federal authorities control the investigation.

Arizona v. United States (2012)

2010-2012

What Happened

Arizona passed SB 1070, attempting to create state immigration enforcement powers. The Obama administration sued, arguing federal preemption. The Supreme Court struck down three of four provisions, ruling immigration enforcement is exclusively federal authority.

Outcome

Short Term

Arizona's law was gutted. Copycat laws in Alabama, Georgia, and other states were blocked.

Long Term

Established that states cannot independently enforce immigration law—but the 10th Amendment protects them from being forced to participate.

Why It's Relevant Today

The current lawsuits flip Arizona's framework: states aren't trying to enforce immigration law, they're trying to stop federal enforcement on their territory. The legal question is whether the 10th Amendment and constitutional limits on use of force can constrain federal operations that states allowed under Arizona but didn't invite.

California Sanctuary State Litigation (2017-2021)

2017-2021

What Happened

The first Trump administration sued California over SB 54, its sanctuary law limiting local cooperation with ICE. California countersued over executive orders defunding sanctuary cities. Federal courts sided with California on both fronts.

Outcome

Short Term

Federal judges blocked defunding sanctuary cities as unconstitutional commandeering. California's sanctuary law was upheld.

Long Term

The 9th Circuit ruled that 'refusing to help is not the same as impeding.' The Supreme Court declined to review the case.

Why It's Relevant Today

The California precedent established that states can refuse cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Minnesota and Illinois are now testing whether states can go further—using federal courts to actively halt enforcement operations they deem unconstitutional.

12 Sources:
+6
NPR CBS News CNN Wikipedia NBC News Washington Post DHS City of Saint Paul Illinois Governor's Office The Marshall Project Wikipedia CNN