MINNEAPOLIS — Tensions between the State of Minnesota and the Trump administration reached a boiling point this week as Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a sweeping federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The litigation follows a series of high-profile confrontations in Minneapolis, including the fatal shooting of a local resident by federal agents and allegations of unconstitutional surveillance and “terror” tactics deployed against the civilian population.
Video courtesy of DWS
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, seeks to halt what state officials describe as “unlawful and militarized” immigration enforcement. The legal challenge centers on three primary arguments: the unconstitutional redirection of public safety funds, the violation of Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the administration’s alleged interference with state-led investigations into federal misconduct.
A Community in Crisis
The catalyst for the legal action was the January 7, 2026, fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Witnesses and local leaders have disputed the administration’s narrative that the agent acted in self-defense. In the wake of the killing, the FBI assumed sole control of the investigation, effectively barring the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) from accessing evidence or interviewing the agents involved.
“The federal government is deliberately weaponizing its agencies to instill fear in our neighborhoods,” Attorney General Ellison stated. “We will not allow the Trump administration to operate a shadow police force that is unaccountable to the people of Minnesota.”
The complaint details a “campaign of intimidation” that began in late 2025. It alleges that masked federal officers in militarized gear have conducted indiscriminate raids, abducted community members from public streets, and used chemical irritants and rubber bullets against peaceful observers and journalists.
The “Power of the Purse” Conflict
A significant portion of the lawsuit focuses on the administration’s efforts to coerce Minnesota into compliance with federal immigration priorities by withholding essential funding. In late 2025, DHS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) attempted to slash over $6.5 million in Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) funds from Minnesota—a 44% reduction from previously promised levels.
These funds are traditionally used for disaster preparedness, bomb squad equipment, and anti-terrorism training. The administration argued that the cuts were justified because Minnesota refused to divert local law enforcement resources to assist ICE. Minnesota argues this is a violation of the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution, asserting that the President cannot unilaterally attach “ideological strings” to funds already appropriated by Congress.
Constitutional Overreach and Oversight
The lawsuit also highlights a growing rift over congressional and state oversight. Recently, Minnesota Representatives Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig, and Kelly Morrison were denied entry to an ICE detention facility near Minneapolis. The administration, led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, has reportedly implemented a policy requiring seven days’ notice for any oversight visits—a move that a federal judge previously called a likely violation of federal law.
Minnesota’s legal team argues that the administration’s “refusal to be seen” extends to the streets, where the ACLU of Minnesota has documented cases of agents allegedly “slamming observers face-first into the snow” for simply asking if they were with ICE.
The Administration’s Stance
The Trump administration has remained defiant. Vice President JD Vance defended the ICE agents involved in the Minneapolis operations, characterizing the death of Renee Good as a “tragedy of her own making” and accusing local leaders of harboring “left-wing ideology” that obstructs federal law.
Secretary Noem has further escalated the conflict by announcing the deployment of hundreds of additional agents to the Twin Cities, calling the local authorities “corrupt” for their sanctuary-style policies. The Department of Justice also filed a countersue against Minnesota in September 2025, claiming the state’s refusal to cooperate with ICE results in the release of “dangerous criminals.”
Looking Ahead
The outcome of this legal battle will likely have national implications for the limits of executive power and the sovereignty of states. As Minnesota seeks a permanent injunction against the administration’s current enforcement tactics, local protests continue to grow.
“Minnesota is a state that believes in the rule of law,” said Ellison. “But the rule of law applies to the President, too.”
News Sources and Links
- Minnesota Attorney General’s Office: Attorney General Ellison wins lawsuit to protect critical Homeland Security funding
- The Washington Post: Minnesota leaders escalate dispute over federal handling of ICE shooting
- ACLU of Minnesota: ACLU-MN, Pro Bono Partners Sue to Protect Protesters from Illegal Activity by ICE
- Democracy Docket: Lawmakers say Noem is still illegally blocking ICE facility oversight
- CBS News Minnesota: Legal analyst breaks down questions surrounding ICE killing of Renee Good
- U.S. Department of Justice: Justice Department Sues Minnesota Over Sanctuary Policies
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