Minnesota Immigration Operation Sparks Hundreds of Legal Challenges

Federal courts in Minnesota overwhelmed by habeas corpus petitions filed by detained immigrants

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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A major immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota has generated over 700 legal challenges, straining the federal courts in the state. The 700-plus habeas corpus petitions represent only a portion of the legal filings stemming from Operation Metro Surge, which has resulted in more than 4,000 arrests since December. The influx of cases has forced the U.S. Attorney's Office to redirect resources, and has led to issues like ICE violating court orders and detainees being flown to other states.

Why it matters

The unprecedented volume of immigration detention cases in Minnesota highlights the legal and logistical challenges posed by aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. The operation has also resulted in two civilian deaths during encounters with federal agents, raising concerns about the use of force and the impact on local communities.

The details

Since December 1, more than 4,000 arrests in the Twin Cities area have generated hundreds of legal filings, including over 700 habeas corpus petitions. The U.S. Attorney's Office has had to redirect resources from other civil enforcement work to handle the immigration detention challenges. An ICE attorney described the workload as overwhelming, saying "The system sucks, this job sucks." Minnesota's chief federal judge found that ICE violated at least 96 court orders in the state during January, including a case where a detained immigrant ordered released was instead flown to Texas.

  • On December 1, Operation Metro Surge began in the Twin Cities area.
  • In January 2026, Minnesota saw 427 habeas petitions filed, compared to the typical 10 or fewer in previous months.
  • By early February 2026, the number of habeas petitions had surpassed 700.
  • On January 7 and January 24, 2026, federal agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during the operation.
  • On Wednesday, February 5, 2026, border czar Tom Homan announced the withdrawal of 700 federal agents from Minnesota, though approximately 2,000 will remain.

The players

Daniel Rosen

The U.S. Attorney for Minnesota, whose office has had to redirect resources from other civil enforcement work to handle the immigration detention challenges.

Julie Le

An ICE attorney who described the workload as overwhelming, saying "The system sucks, this job sucks."

Patrick Schiltz

Minnesota's chief federal judge, who found that ICE violated at least 96 court orders in the state during January.

Daniel Traynor

A judge from North Dakota who volunteered to help handle Minnesota's caseload and has denied releases in all but one of his assigned cases.

Kristi Noem

The Homeland Security Secretary, who initially defended the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and characterized them as domestic terrorists.

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What they’re saying

“This flood of new litigation imposes an enormous burden on this U.S. Attorney's Office.”

— Daniel Rosen, U.S. Attorney for Minnesota

“The system sucks, this job sucks.”

— Julie Le, ICE Attorney (CNN)

What’s next

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has asked judges from Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and North Dakota to help handle Minnesota's caseload. The legal disputes stem from a July 2025 Justice Department determination that non-citizens should be considered 'applicants for admission,' subject to mandatory detention during deportation proceedings.

The takeaway

The Minnesota immigration operation has overwhelmed the federal courts, leading to hundreds of legal challenges and straining the resources of the U.S. Attorney's Office. This highlights the broader legal and logistical challenges posed by aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, as well as concerns about the use of force and the impact on local communities.