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The state of Minnesota has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop what it calls a “federal invasion” by immigration enforcement agents.

Getting into it: The lawsuit, filed by Attorney General Keith Ellison, accuses the Trump administration of orchestrating an unconstitutional deployment of federal immigration agents in Minnesota, allegedly violating the state’s sovereign authority under the 10th Amendment. “This is, in essence, a federal invasion of the Twin Cities and Minnesota, and it must stop,” Ellison said at a press conference.

The state argues that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has used excessive and lethal force, carried out warrantless arrests, and conducted enforcement actions in sensitive locations such as schools, churches, and hospitals. The complaint also alleges that DHS is attempting to “commandeer state and local law enforcement” to carry out federal immigration duties, which it calls a breach of state rights and a threat to the well-being of Minnesota residents. The lawsuit further claims that the Trump administration is retaliating against cities that do not align politically with the former president.

In response, federal officials have strongly denied the allegations. The Department of Homeland Security described the lawsuit as “baseless,” arguing that the deployment is necessary to ensure the safety of ICE and Border Patrol agents during operations. Tricia McLaughlin of DHS stated, “Keith Ellison made it abundantly clear today he is prioritizing politics over public safety.” ICE Acting Director Joe Lyons echoed this sentiment, dismissing the lawsuit’s allegations as “just very sad,” and adding, “There’s a lot that I don’t think they understand about what ICE is doing.”

Lyons rejected the idea that ICE had attempted to force state or local authorities to cooperate, stating, “ICE never asked any government agency in Minnesota to do immigration law for us.” He further defended the legality of ICE’s actions, claiming that they are simply carrying out “our lawful law enforcement mission that Congress has on the books.”