Chicago – January 13, 2026
Minnesota and Illinois have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration to block a massive deployment of federal immigration agents, claiming the operations violate state sovereignty and constitutional rights.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison described the influx as a “federal invasion” of the Twin Cities, particularly after a federal agent fatally shot a 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis last week, prompting Minneapolis and St. Paul to join the suit. The states argue that the Department of Homeland Security’s mobilization of over 2,000 armed agents breaches the First Amendment, due process, and anti-commandeering laws, seeking immediate court orders to halt or restrict the raids.
Federal officials defend the crackdown as essential for enforcing immigration laws in Democratic strongholds accused of harboring illegal immigrants linked to crime.
The administration portrays the surge as one of the largest in years, while critics say it terrorizes communities for political motives. Legal battles could escalate tensions between Washington and sanctuary-leaning states amid Trump’s aggressive enforcement push.
