A federal judge is demanding that lawyers representing President Donald Trump's administration reveal the real reason why it surged immigration officers into Minneapolis, according to a new report.
Adam Klasfeld, editor-in-chief of All Rise News, reported on Monday that U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez of the District Court of Minnesota, ordered Trump lawyers to answer allegations made by the State of Minnesota that the purpose of "Operation Metro Surge" is to punish the state's political leadership and overturn state policies the administration disagrees with.
"To ensure that the Court has provided all parties a full opportunity to be heard on the issues raised in connection with Plaintiffs’ motion for temporary injunctive relief, the Court instructs Defendants to file a supplemental memorandum," Mendez's order reads in part.
"In the supplemental memorandum, Defendants shall address Plaintiffs’ assertion that the purpose of Operation Metro Surge is to punish Plaintiffs for adopting sanctuary laws and policies; coerce Plaintiffs into changing state and local law; compel Plaintiffs to direct state and local resources to facilitate information sharing to aid federal immigration enforcement; and cause Plaintiffs to direct more state and local resources towards holding immigration targets in detention for longer periods of time than otherwise allowed," it added.
Menendez's order happened at a time when Trump's immigration regime is facing increased scrutiny. At least 11 people have been shot by federal immigration agents since Trump took office last January, according to reports. The recent high-profile deaths of ICE nurse Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis have sparked calls for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be disbanded, and its leader, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, to be impeached.