Judge sets deadlines in Minnesota’s lawsuit against ICE, no immediate restraining order

MINNEAPOLIS — A federal judge did not take immediate action on the state of Minnesota’s request for a restraining order to stop the surge of ICE operations in the state, instead setting timelines for the state and federal government to respond in the case. 

Attorney General Keith Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul filed suit Monday in federal court, seeking to stop what Ellison called an “invasion” of the state.

KARE 11 listened in on the hearing Wednesday morning, in which the state outlined specific examples of harm to plaintiffs, calling federal agents’ activity “unconstitutional.” The state asked for an immediate ruling on the temporary restraining order requested by Attorney General Keith Ellison to put an end to the Trump administration’s “Operation Metro Surge.”

U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez called the case a “frontier” in constitutional law and said the court needs more time to gather information, while promising to keep the case “on the front burner.”  

“It is simply recognition that these are grave and important matters,” the judge said of the timetable, noting there are few legal precedents to apply to some of the key points in the case.

The judge acknowledged the parallels between the current case and Tincher v. Noem, which was filed in December. While the Tincher lawsuit brought forth by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) claimed six community members had their rights violated by ICE and other federal agents, the judge said the latest case differs because it’s broader in scope.

A deadline was set for Monday, Jan. 19, for the federal government to respond to Ellison’s lawsuit. The state will then have until Jan. 22 to file its response.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.