MINNESOTA:- A US judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to force information from several Minnesota officials, including Minnesota’s Democratic governor, as part of an investigation into whether opposing immigration enforcement was a crime, according to an order from a US district judge in Minnesota.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz in Minnesota is a significant challenge to the Justice Department’s investigation that began in Minneapolis in January at the height of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
“The court finds that the primary purpose of the challenged subpoena is to compel Minnesota officials to cooperate with the federal government in enforcing civil immigration laws and to harass and retaliate against them for their failure to do so,” Judge Patrick Schiltz wrote in the ruling. The order, issued on June 17, was made public Monday.
The subpoenas, issued to six state and local offices, were intended to gather information about whether Democratic officials have obstructed immigration enforcement as the Trump administration deploys thousands of agents to conduct deportation roundups.
The escalation has led to several violent clashes with residents and activists, including the killing of two U.S. citizens by federal agents.
The Justice Department, under President Donald Trump, sought detailed information about state and local policies and directives related to federal immigration operations. Among the recipients was Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.