The State of Minnesota, along with the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, filed a federal lawsuit Monday seeking to halt what they described as an unprecedented surge of federal agents in the Twin Cities. The lawsuit, an 80-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota, targets the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and senior federal officials, including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

The plaintiffs are requesting a judge to immediately block Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale immigration operation that, according to the lawsuit, has deployed thousands of armed, masked federal agents into Minnesota communities far from the border. The lawsuit alleges that this operation is overwhelming local infrastructure and law enforcement and represents a constitutional violation and a direct threat to public safety.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, at a press conference Monday, characterized the federal operation as an unlawful escalation. "This is, in essence, a federal invasion of the Twin Cities and Minnesota, and it must stop," Ellison stated. He accused DHS agents of creating chaos and terror throughout the metro area through warrantless arrests.

The lawsuit argues that the federal government's actions violate the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the Tenth Amendment, which reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states. The plaintiffs contend that the scale and nature of Operation Metro Surge exceed the federal government's authority and infringe upon the state's right to maintain order and protect its citizens.

Operation Metro Surge is reportedly aimed at addressing immigration enforcement in the region. Federal officials have stated that the operation is necessary to apprehend and deport individuals who pose a threat to national security or public safety. However, the lawsuit alleges that the operation has resulted in the detention of individuals without proper cause and has created a climate of fear within the community.

The legal challenge comes amid ongoing national debates regarding immigration enforcement and the role of federal agencies in local communities. Similar concerns have been raised in other cities across the country that have experienced surges in federal law enforcement activity. The outcome of the lawsuit could have significant implications for the balance of power between the federal government and state and local authorities in matters of immigration enforcement.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has not yet issued a formal response to the lawsuit. The court is expected to schedule a hearing to consider the plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction to halt Operation Metro Surge while the case proceeds. The lawsuit is likely to face vigorous legal challenges from the federal government, and its ultimate resolution could take months or even years.