DOJ Slams Minnesota Lawsuit Seeking to Halt ICE Surge as 'Legally Frivolous'
In a move that has sparked controversy and raised concerns about federal overreach, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed claims made in a lawsuit seeking an immediate stop to the surge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota as 'legally frivolous.' The DOJ's scathing rebuke comes as tensions between state and local authorities and federal immigration officials continue to escalate.DOJ Pushes Back Against Lawsuit
The DOJ filed a memorandum with the U.S. District Court in Minnesota on Monday, arguing that the plaintiffs' claims are baseless and lack any legal merit. The memo specifically targets the Tenth Amendment, which the state of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and St. Paul claim has been violated by ICE's actions. According to the DOJ, the Tenth Amendment is 'far different from the one in the Constitution,' and its application in this case is 'a truism that all is retained which has not been surrendered.'
ICE Agents Accused of Unlawful Conduct
The lawsuit alleges that federal law enforcement officers have engaged in unlawful conduct, including warrantless arrests and the infringement on state and local police powers. One such instance cited by the plaintiffs is a December 5 incident where an ICE agent entered a south Minneapolis restaurant without a warrant, stating 'We don't need one.' The DOJ pushed back against these claims, insisting that ICE agents are in Minnesota to enforce federal immigration law, not to run schools or enforce state laws.
Judge Menendez's Ruling
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez is currently considering whether to grant an immediate temporary restraining order limiting ICE activities. Last week, she announced that she would not issue the temporary restraining order until hearing a response from the federal government. The DOJ's appeal comes days after Judge Menendez blocked federal agents deployed to Minnesota from using pepper spray or nonlethal munitions on peaceful protesters.
The DOJ's dismissal of the lawsuit as 'legally frivolous' has sparked heated debate and raised questions about the limits of federal authority. As tensions between state and local authorities and federal immigration officials continue to escalate, one thing is clear: the fate of ICE's surge in Minnesota hangs precariously in the balance.
