ACLU Minnesota sues Trump administration over Metro Surge arrests
ACLU Minnesota has sued the Trump administration, alleging constitutional violations related to arrests carried out during the Operation Metro Surge. In a related case, the DOJ filed a formal response opposing Minnesota and local governments’ bid to halt the surge, calling the motion "legally frivolous" and signaling the administration will vigorously contest claims about warrantless arrests and profiling in federal court.
📌 Key Facts
- The DOJ filed a formal written response in federal court to Minnesota’s motion in a separate but related lawsuit brought by the state and cities seeking to halt Operation Metro Surge.
- In that response, the DOJ described Minnesota’s motion as “legally frivolous.”
- The Trump administration is now on record in federal court directly attacking the state’s position on Operation Metro Surge.
- As a result, litigation over Operation Metro Surge is no longer one‑sided.
- The administration’s filing will shape how judges evaluate the broader claims in the cases, including allegations of warrantless arrests and profiling.
📊 Relevant Data
More than half (52 percent) of children in Somali immigrant homes in Minnesota live in poverty, while only 8 percent of children in native-born homes do.
Somali Immigrants in Minnesota — Center for Immigration Studies
Somali Minnesotans generate at least $500 million in income annually and pay about $67 million in state and local taxes.
Somali Minnesotans drive economic growth, pay $67M taxes annually — KSTP
Minnesota became a hub for Somali immigrants due to strong networks of refugee resettlement agencies and social connections among early arrivals.
How did MN get the nation's largest Somali population? — Star Tribune
Several Minnesota school districts, including those in the Twin Cities area, are offering online learning options amid concerns over ICE operations near schools.
Minnesota school districts offering online learning amid ICE surge concerns — FOX 9
Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota was initiated to apprehend criminal noncitizens, resulting in over 400 arrests including individuals with convictions for serious crimes like child sexual assault and rape.
ICE Arrests the Worst of the Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens Including Pedophiles, Rapists, and Violent Thugs — Department of Homeland Security
The poverty rate for Somali Minnesotans is 22.8 percent, compared to the overall Minnesota poverty rate of around 9 percent in recent years.
Latest Data on Somali Minnesotans 2024 — Empowering Strategies
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Adds DOJ’s formal written response to Minnesota’s effort (in a separate but related lawsuit by the state and cities) seeking to halt Operation Metro Surge, with DOJ characterizing the motion as 'legally frivolous.'
- Shows that litigation over the surge is no longer one‑sided; the administration is now on record in federal court attacking the state’s position, which will shape how judges view the broader claims about warrantless arrests and profiling.