Judge refuses to halt ICE operations in Minnesota

A federal judge Wednesday refused to halt immigration operations in Minnesota — at least until the Justice Department has had a chance to respond to a lawsuit accusing it of carrying out a “federal invasion” in the state.

Federal Judge Katherine Menendez declined to immediately rule on an emergency request by the state of Minnesota and Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, to bar the Trump administration’s use of ICE to crack down on illegal immigration in the state.

Menendez said she needed more time to make a decision in the case — which has little precedent to go off of. She said the case would remain “on the front burner” and told the feds to file their argument on the North Star State’s bid for a restraining order by Monday. 

“It is simply recognition that these are grave and important matters,” Menendez said. 

Earlier in the hearing, Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter argued that an immediate ruling was needed to help ease social unrest there.

“What we need most of all right now is a pause,” Carter said. “The temperature needs to be lowered.”

But Justice Department lawyer Andrew Warden supported Menendez’s decision to hold off on issuing a rush judgment on the bid for a temporary restraining order against ICE.

The suit was filed after immigration agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed anti-ICE protester Renee Nicole Good on Jan. 7 in her car.

The moment was captured on video and has been highly polarizing, as President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security have claimed Ross was hit by Good’s car and that he was justified to shoot her in self-defense.

Meanwhile, Democrats and lefty activists have decried Ross’ use of deadly force and the encounter has sparked a surge of protests against ICE in the state.

On Wednesday, DHS claimed that Ross suffered internal bleeding after Good’s car made contact with him as she drove away.

More than 2,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested in Minnesota since early December, according to the agency, which said it didn’t plan to slow its crackdown. 

With Post wires