Federal Judge to Review Request to Halt Minnesota Immigration Enforcement as Trump Sends Border Czar
A federal court on Monday is set to review a request to temporarily suspend the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, after a second U.S. citizen was killed over the weekend, triggering widespread criticism.
Minnesota officials, joined by the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, argue that the deployment of about 3,000 federal agents is excessive and infringes on state authority.
The Trump administration has rejected the claims, calling the legal challenge baseless and warning that any pause would weaken the enforcement of federal law.
Both sides are set to make their case on Monday before U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez. Separately, President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy White House border security chief Tom Homan to Minnesota after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti during a confrontation between immigration agents and protesters in Minneapolis on Saturday.
Trump said Homan would oversee the situation directly and described him as firm but fair.
Homeland Security officials have described the incident as a self-defense response, claiming agents opened fire after Pretti approached them with a handgun. However, video footage from the scene shows Pretti holding a mobile phone rather than a weapon before agents restrained him and shot him, raising questions about the official account.
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Trump Says Situation Is Under Full Review
It remains uncertain whether President Trump’s announcement signals a further expansion of federal involvement or a possible retreat. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal on Sunday, Trump said his administration is “reviewing everything” surrounding the incident and indicated that immigration agents would ultimately pull back.
The enforcement operation has triggered large-scale street demonstrations despite freezing temperatures, along with sharp criticism from Minnesota’s Democratic leadership.
On Sunday, 60 of the state’s largest corporations—including Target, 3M, UnitedHealth, and U.S. Bancorp—publicly urged both sides to immediately reduce tensions.
Recent polling by Reuters shows growing unease even among Trump’s Republican supporters, with 39% saying enforcement efforts should avoid harm, even if that results in fewer immigration arrests.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats in Washington have vowed to block a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, increasing the risk of a partial government shutdown beginning Sunday.
Although Republicans approved a major boost to immigration enforcement funding last year, some within the party are now pressing the administration for explanations.
