MINNESOTA SUES US ADMINISTRATION TO HALT ICE OPERATIONS

WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (Bernama-dpa) -- The United States (US) state of Minnesota, along with the cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking to halt operations by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, German Press Agency (dpa) reported. 

The legal action, filed in the US District Court for the District of Minnesota, claims that the deployment of federal officers violates the US constitution and infringes on the rights of the state.

The lawsuit comes days after an ICE officer fatally shot 37-year-old US citizen Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. Federal authorities said she tried to run over an officer, but video footage appears to show Good's vehicle turning away from the agent at the time of the shooting. 

The incident sparked protests and heightened tensions across several cities in Minnesota.

ICE and US Customs and Border Protection, both operating under the Department of Homeland Security, have been sent to several US cities to identify and deport people without lawful immigration status. 

The large enforcement operation was part of US President Donald Trump's campaign promises on deportations. Several cities and states have since challenged the actions in court.

The lawsuit describes the federal deployment as an "invasion," noting that over 2,000 federal officers have been sent to Minneapolis and St Paul, outnumbering local police. Plaintiffs are seeking a ruling to stop the operation and declare it unconstitutional. 

The next levels of appeal would be a federal appellate court and the US Supreme Court. Previous legal challenges to federal law enforcement deployments in the state have produced mixed outcomes.

-- BERNAMA-dpa