Minnesota and the Twin Cities filed a federal lawsuit Monday to stop a Trump-backed immigration raid that’s led to thousands of arrests and triggered massive protests after a Minneapolis woman was shot and killed by an ICE officer.

The suit alleges that the surge of over 2,000 immigration officers into the state — dubbed “Operation Metro Surge” — is politically motivated retaliation and a violation of the First Amendment.

Gov. Tim Walz, along with leaders from Minneapolis and St. Paul, asked a federal court to immediately halt the ICE operation, calling it “arbitrary and capricious.”

The Trump administration claims the surge is to fight fraud, but the lawsuit says ICE has no fraud expertise and that other states aren’t seeing similar crackdowns.

Instead, the state argues the real goal is punishing Minnesota — a blue stronghold — for its political stance and vocal criticism of Trump’s anti-immigrant policies.

The legal action comes days after Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman, was shot in the head and killed by an ICE officer while driving her SUV.

Video footage contradicts ICE’s claim that she was a threat.

Her killing has sparked nationwide protests, with demonstrations in dozens of cities and calls for accountability.

Over the weekend, federal agents used tear gas on bystanders in Minneapolis, further inflaming tensions.
This is the largest ICE operation of its kind in U.S. history — and it’s happening in one of the most immigrant-friendly states.

Over 2,000 people have already been arrested.

Protesters, community members, and even bystanders are being targeted, creating a climate of fear.

Gov. Walz visited the site where Good was killed and has slammed the Trump administration for defending the officer responsible.

Local residents like Christian Molina, a U.S. citizen who was harassed by ICE agents on Monday, say they feel hunted: “I’m glad they didn’t shoot me or something.”

The lawsuit is a direct challenge to Trump’s use of federal power to silence and punish blue states.

It’s also a test of whether states can stop the federal government from using immigration enforcement as a political weapon.

And it signals growing resistance from progressive leaders as Trump ramps up his second-term agenda — one rooted in fear, force, and fascist tactics.