Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a lawsuit Monday, Jan. 12, on behalf of the state and Minneapolis and St. Paul, asking the court to end what he calls an “unprecedented surge” of federal agents.
The lawsuit cites militarized raids, unconstitutional and dangerous stops and arrests, and numerous instances of excessive force leading to the diversion of public safety resources and the shuttering of metro area schools.
“The unlawful deployment of thousands of armed, masked, and poorly trained federal agents is hurting Minnesota,” stated Ellison in a news release. “People are being racially profiled, harassed, terrorized and assaulted. Schools have gone into lockdown. Businesses have been forced to close.
"Minnesota police are spending countless hours dealing with the chaos ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] is causing. This federal invasion of the Twin Cities has to stop, so today I am suing DHS [Department of Homeland Security] to bring it to an end.”
Valley News Live reported ICE activity in Detroit Lakes Monday, with agents reportedly being spotted in numerous locations.
While rumors of sightings of ICE agents in Bemidji circulated over the weekend, none have been confirmed as of Monday afternoon.
Bemidji Police Chief Mike Mastin stated in a Monday memo that his office has not been notified of any planned immigration enforcement activities in the city.
He added the Bemidji Police Department is responsible for upholding state and local laws and would not be proactively involved with immigration enforcement on behalf of federal agents.
“If protests, demonstrations or other gatherings occur, our officers may respond to assess whether the activity is lawful, ensure public safety, protect everyone present, de-escalate situations and maintain the peace for those exercising their First Amendment right,” stated Mastin in his memo.
Mastin stated it is unlawful to obstruct immigration enforcement operations and advises bystanders to maintain a safe distance while observing ICE actions.
A request for comment from ICE was not returned as of Monday afternoon.
Tribal leaders across the state are condemning what appears to be racial profiling by ICE agents in the Twin Cities and they encourage tribal members and their descendants to carry documentation of their First Citizen status.
ICT reported on the temporary detention of a 20-year-old Red Lake Nation descendant in the Twin Cities on Thursday. The Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota claimed four of its members were recently detained by ICE agents.
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Chairman Faron Jackson issued a tribal service announcement Monday. He advised any band member detained by ICE to call Tribal Council Administration at 218-335-8200.
“I am holding firm on the position that Homeland Security ICE Agents could have been more effective if they met with community leaders, elected leaders and sought community support with the illegal immigration crisis facing our country,” stated Jackson in the release.
“Presently, seeing our citizens being hurt is wrong, this must stop immediately, until there’s a more humane way to address the policies on illegal immigration facing the U.S.”
The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the White Earth Nation, the Red Lake Nation and others have temporarily waived fees for tribal IDs. Minnesota’s tribal nations are also hosting tribal ID processing days at their Twin Cities offices this week.
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Contributed/Alyssa Chen / Minnesota ReformerThe package has 18 proposals, including prohibiting legislators from making direct appropriations to nonprofits and establishing a centralized Office of Inspector General. -
Contributed/The Unruly ShutterThe four teams will represent rural Northern Minnesota in the state tournament March 4-7, 2026, in the Twin Cities. -
Contributed/Staples-Motley Cardinals Wrestling via FacebookThe Cardinals' dominant run at the state tournament ended with another championship Feb. 26, 2026. United North Central's more mixed results resulted in a fifth-place finish. -
Contributed/Francesco Ungaro via PexelsAnita Charlene Gruel was pronounced dead at the scene. Her son Charles Lane Gruel was treated for injuries caused by the fire. The fire is still under investigation. -
Contributed/Nicole Neri / Minnesota ReformerFederal judges have excoriated the Trump administration for directing immigration agents to carry out mass arrests and detention without warrants under a new legal theory that contradicts decades of precedent. -
Photo illustration/Canva ProThe crash on Highway 169 is the state’s deadliest in nearly three years, and the second in that area that occurred this week. -
Contributed/Tony Webster via Wikimedia CommonsJennifer Stately, 37, was tried in a Minneapolis federal court for the murders of her two sons, ages 5 and 6, on the Red Lake Nation in March 2024. -
Plus: Hubbard County man charged with threatening state lawmakers; and Hibbing Public Schools is bracing for a potential strike from the union representing support staff. -
Contributed/Staples-Motley School DistrictStaples-Motley is asking voters to approve $55 million in new bonds that would replace old debt, thereby not increasing taxes. The money would be used to update both schools. -
Contributed/Minnesota House Public Information ServicesJohn Tobias, 58, of rural Park Rapids, was arraigned Feb. 25, 2026, after allegedly threatening an attack on the state Capitol.
