Overview
- U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez issued an 83-page injunction barring arrests of peaceful demonstrators, prohibiting tear gas or pepper spray, and restricting vehicle stops without reasonable suspicion, with DHS given 72 hours to comply.
- The ruling arises from an ACLU lawsuit filed on behalf of six activists and remains in effect for the duration of the expanded federal operation known as Operation Metro Surge.
- Multiple outlets report the DOJ has opened probes into Walz and Frey for potential violations of 18 U.S.C. § 372 related to alleged efforts to impede federal officers.
- Roughly 1,500 active-duty troops have been placed on prepare-to-deploy orders for Minnesota, and Governor Walz has mobilized the state National Guard, which has not been sent into the streets.
- Protests continue following the Jan. 7 killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent, with a separate shooting injuring a Venezuelan man and occasional confrontations between opposing groups in Minneapolis.