A group of 20 attorneys general, including Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark, has filed an amicus brief supporting Minnesota’s lawsuit and request for a temporary restraining order against the federal government’s recent deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol agents to Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
The brief, submitted on January 22, 2026, to the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, calls for an immediate halt to what it describes as unconstitutional actions by federal authorities in the Twin Cities area. According to public reports referenced in the filing, over 3,000 federal agents were sent into Minnesota by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), resulting in incidents that included a fatal shooting, serious injuries to residents, confrontations with protestors, and widespread stops and arrests deemed unconstitutional.
“Law enforcement at all levels – federal, state, and local – is entrusted with the immense responsibility of protecting and serving our communities and must meet this responsibility in ways that abide by the Constitution,” said Attorney General Clark. “ICE agents in Minnesota, working at the direction of the Trump Administration, have failed to meet this responsibility in the most tragic ways possible. Public trust is completely eroded. Vermont stands with Attorney General Ellison and the brave people of Minnesota in calling for accountability, community safety, and respect for our constitutional rights.”
The escalation began in December 2025 when DHS signaled increased enforcement efforts targeting Minnesota. Operation Metro Surge was described by ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons as “the agency’s ‘largest immigration operation ever’” following President Trump’s pledge for an extensive mass deportation initiative. Reports indicate that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem authorized up to 3,000 immigration officers—including approximately 2,000 from ICE—to be deployed alongside Border Patrol agents and personnel from other Justice Department agencies.
In addition to these deployments, President Trump reportedly threatened use of the Insurrection Act while there are claims that up to 1,500 Pentagon troops could be prepared for further action within Minnesota.
Local law enforcement resources have been strained due to unrest related to these operations. Since Minnesota initiated its lawsuit against DHS actions, additional violent incidents have been reported involving ICE agents: one week after a resident named Renee Good was fatally shot by federal officers in Minneapolis another individual was shot; another incident involved tear gas being used on a family inside their car—resulting in a six-month-old child losing consciousness.
These events have had broad effects on daily life across Minneapolis–Saint Paul: pregnant women are reportedly avoiding medical appointments out of fear; businesses are experiencing significant revenue losses; shopping centers are largely deserted; more than 100 schools temporarily closed affecting about 30,000 children; school attendance continues declining amid ongoing fears among families.
Attorney General Clark and her colleagues argue that granting a temporary restraining order is necessary “to protect the public from these deliberately aggressive and unlawful immigration enforcement practices.” The coalition contends such tactics threaten core powers reserved by states under constitutional principles—specifically those relating to policing responsibilities and promoting health and welfare within their jurisdictions.
A copy of the brief can be accessed via Vermont Attorney General’s official website.
