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By Gabe Whisnant
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A federal judge on Monday openly questioned demands by Attorney General Pam Bondi that Minnesota turn over voter rolls and public assistance records as part of a Trump administration immigration enforcement effort now facing a legal challenge.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez heard arguments on whether to temporarily halt the federal operation, pressing government lawyers on the scope of the administration’s requests and whether they stretch beyond constitutional limits under the banner of immigration enforcement.
“Is there no limit to what the executive can do under the guise of enforcing immigration law?” Menendez asked, referring to a letter Bondi recently sent to Democratic Governor Tim Walz. The letter requested access to Minnesota’s voter rolls, Medicaid and food assistance records and called on the state to repeal sanctuary-style policies.
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Menendez noted that the demands outlined in the letter are already the subject of separate litigation. She said she would consider the arguments and issue a ruling at a later date.
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Court Weighs Request to Halt Operation Metro Surge
Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are seeking a court order to pause Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement campaign they argue has destabilized communities and contributed to two fatal shootings by federal officers in recent weeks.
Menendez, appointed by former Democratic President Joe Biden, said the case was a priority but declined to issue an immediate ruling.
Attorneys for the state and the Twin Cities said the scale and pace of the operation justify urgent court intervention. Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter warned that allowing the effort to continue unchecked risks undermining public trust in democratic institutions.
“If this is not stopped right here, right now, I don’t think anybody who is seriously looking at this problem can have much faith in how our republic is going to go in the future,” Carter said.
Justice Department attorney Brantley Mayers countered that the federal government is acting within its authority to enforce immigration laws. He argued that individual components of the operation should not be conflated or used to invalidate other lawful actions.
“I don’t see how the fact that we’re also doing additional things that we are allowed to do, that the Constitution has vested us with doing, would in any way negate another piece of the same operation,” Mayers said.
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Judge Orders Additional Briefing From Trump Administration
After the hearing, Menendez ordered the Trump administration to submit an additional briefing as she considers the request to halt Operation Metro Surge. The supplemental filing, which has a Wednesday deadline, is expected to address allegations that the operation was intended to punish Minnesota and the Twin Cities for their immigration policies and to coerce changes in state law.
Legal experts said the added briefing requirement could signal the judge is seeking clarity on the federal government’s motivations or allowing time for the parties to resolve the dispute without immediate judicial intervention.
Constitutional Limits and Use of Force at Issue
Menendez questioned where the line should be drawn between executive authority and constitutional violations, asking whether the court was being asked to choose between competing federal and state policy approaches.
“That begins to feel very much like I am deciding which policy approach is best,” she said.
The judge also expressed reluctance to rule on hypothetical scenarios not squarely before the court, including whether federal agents could enter residences without a warrant.
“I can’t be the global keeper of all things here,” Menendez said, suggesting such disputes would need to be litigated separately if they arise.
The lawsuit was filed earlier this month against the Department of Homeland Security, five days after Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. The case gained urgency after Alex Pretti was killed Saturday by a Border Patrol officer during a separate encounter.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has described the enforcement surge as an unprecedented abuse of federal power. Attorneys general from 19 states and the District of Columbia have filed briefs supporting Minnesota, warning that similar operations could spread elsewhere if the court does not intervene.
Why is ICE in Minneapolis?
The federal operation, known as Operation Metro Surge, began December 1, 2025, and dramatically increased the presence of ICE agents, Border Patrol officers and other federal personnel in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. The Trump administration has said the effort is aimed at removing undocumented immigrants with criminal histories and dismantling a multibillion-dollar fraud scandal centered in its Somali community.
State and city officials dispute that characterization, arguing the operation has expanded far beyond targeted enforcement and has led to widespread street-level encounters, aggressive tactics and confusion over the roles of different federal agencies.
What to Know About the Two ICE Shootings in Minneapolis
The lawsuit centers in part on two fatal shootings involving federal officers. Good was killed earlier this month by an ICE officer during an enforcement action. On Saturday, Pretti was shot and killed by a Border Patrol officer.
Details in both cases remain under investigation, but state and local officials say the incidents underscore the dangers of the intensified federal presence. The shootings have fueled protests and prompted additional legal action aimed at curbing federal tactics in Minnesota.
Where are ICE Agents Trained?
ICE officers receive training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, with major campuses in Georgia, New Mexico and South Carolina. Border Patrol agents are primarily trained at the Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, New Mexico.
Why Does Pam Bondi Want Voter Rolls?
Bondi’s letter to Walz requested access to Minnesota’s voter rolls, arguing the information could help federal officials identify noncitizens who may be unlawfully registered to vote. Minnesota officials have pushed back, noting that voter eligibility is governed by state law and that the request raises privacy and federalism concerns.
Menendez highlighted that the voter-roll demand is already being challenged in court, adding to her skepticism about whether the request falls within the scope of immigration enforcement.
Updates: 1/26/26, 5 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Updates: 1/26/26, 7:39 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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