Judge Quashes Trump’s Subpoenas Against Minnesota Officials

A federal judge in Minnesota has quashed the Justice Department’s subpoenas targeting state and local officials. The ruling, unsealed on Monday, found that the Trump administration had misused the grand jury process for political motives during its immigration crackdown in Minnesota.

Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz criticized the purpose of the subpoenas, stating they aimed to coerce Minnesota officials into helping enforce federal immigration laws. He described the subpoenas as a means to harass and retaliate against officials who disagreed with the administration’s policies.

Judge Schiltz, appointed by President George W. Bush, had previously expressed concerns about the Trump administration’s approach during Operation Metro Surge. This operation involved thousands of agents, resulting in numerous arrests and incidents in Minnesota, including shootings in Minneapolis. At one point, Judge Schiltz demanded that the leader of Immigration and Customs Enforcement appear in court to explain detentions without legal recourse, though he later rescinded that demand.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson dismissed one of Schiltz’s previous orders as an “activist” stance. The Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond immediately to requests for comment on the subpoenas being quashed.

In January, amid Operation Metro Surge, the Justice Department issued subpoenas to offices of prominent Minnesota Democrats who criticized Trump’s immigration policies. The subpoenas sought records on immigration enforcement policies. Judge Schiltz stated the subpoenas were ostensibly for investigating possible federal law violations related to concealing undocumented immigration or obstructing the government. However, he noted, they targeted activities both legal and protected from federal interference by the Constitution.

Subpoenas were directed at officials including Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Mayors Jacob Frey of Minneapolis and Kaohly Her of St. Paul. These officials welcomed the ruling as a win for the rule of law. “No one should be targeted for questioning those in power,” said Frey. “No community should accept harmful policies without objection and no administration should use law enforcement tools to silence dissent.”

Mitch Smith, a national correspondent based in Chicago, covers the Midwest and Great Plains for The Times.