DOJ asks judge to quash bid to end Operation Metro Surge
Teh Justice Department asked a federal judge to reject Minnesota’s request to halt Operation Metro surge, calling the state’s challenge “legally groundless” and an unprecedented reinterpretation of federalism. DOJ lawyers argued that federal officials’ statements — including Attorney General pam Bondi’s offer to reduce federal presence if the state cooperates — reflect ordinary consequences of a state refusing to assist federal enforcement, not unlawful coercion. U.S.District Judge Katherine Menendez, who expressed skepticism during a hearing and asked for additional briefing, could rule at any time but warned a decision may take longer given the situation’s complexity. Operation Metro Surge, launched Dec. 1, 2025, has resulted in over 3,000 arrests and heightened tensions between protesters and federal officers, prompting ongoing talks to de-escalate, including involvement by federal envoys.
DOJ asks judge to quash Minnesota’s ‘legally groundless’ bid to end Operation Metro Surge
The Justice Department urged a federal judge this week to reject Minnesota’s effort to get a court to end Operation Metro Surge, arguing that granting the state’s request would be “unprecedented” and that its arguments are “legally groundless.”
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez appeared skeptical of the state’s bid to end the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration crackdown during a hearing on Monday. During the hearing, she also expressed concern over Attorney General Pam Bondi’s letter to Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) sent over the weekend, which included various policy demands in exchange for a winding down of the operation. Menendez requested an additional briefing from the DOJ over their arguments, which the Justice Department filed with the court late Wednesday.
In its brief, the DOJ argues that Bondi’s offer to reduce the number of federal officers in Minnesota if the state cooperates with the federal government on other matters is a “natural consequence of Plaintiffs’ policy decisions, not a punishment for them.”
“None of these statements indicate an unlawfully coercive purpose. Instead, they reflect a commonsense proposition: If a state or locality decides not to assist the federal government, the federal government may need to devote more resources to that jurisdiction. To put in terms of the Court’s hypothetical, if a state were to legalize cocaine trafficking, the Drug Enforcement Administration would likely need to do more enforcement there as a result,” the brief said.
“This is exactly the point federal officials were making in the statements Plaintiffs cite. Assuming Plaintiffs are correct that the Tenth Amendment provides them with the freedom to enact their sanctuary policies, then more federal officers may be needed in Minnesota to fill the gap,” the DOJ continued in its brief.
The Justice Department noted that Minnesota officials in recent days have stood firm in their commitment to continuing “sanctuary” policies, but also stressed that talks remain ongoing between federal and local officials for an offramp from recent unrest in the state. The DOJ urged the court not to intervene at this stage because of those talks, arguing that there is no legal justification for a judge to quash the operation, which enforces existing federal laws.
“This is not ‘equal sovereignty’—it is an extraordinary rewriting of foundational federalism principles through which any and all States could supplant federal priorities with their own. This is impracticable relief based on an unprecedented reading of the Tenth Amendment. The Court should reject it,” the brief said.
With the requested brief from the DOJ filed, Menendez could rule on Minnesota’s request to halt the operation at any time. At the conclusion of Monday’s hearing, Menendez, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, warned that a decision may take time due to the complexity of the tense situation in Minnesota.
MINNESOTA ICE PROTESTERS FACE FEW ARRESTS DESPITE CONTINUED UNREST
The Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge began on Dec. 1, 2025, per DHS, and has led to the arrest of more than 3,000 illegal immigrants over the past several weeks.
Tensions between anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters and federal law enforcement have led to a pair of deadly confrontations between protesters and officers. The high tensions have led to both federal and state officials seeking to de-escalate, with President Donald Trump sending his border czar, Tom Homan, to lead discussions.
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