A federal judge has halted investigations by the US administration into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and other Democratic officials over alleged obstruction of immigration enforcement, ruling that subpoenas were issued on unconstitutional grounds.
In a decision released on Monday, Judge Patrick Schiltz said the subpoenas were invalid and found that their "dominant purpose" was to compel Minnesota officials to assist federal immigration enforcement, while also harassing and retaliating against them for failing to do so.
Walz, a prominent critic of US President Donald Trump, said the ruling was a victory for the rule of law and democracy.
Minnesota became a focal point for protests earlier this year against Trump's hardline immigration policies and controversial raids targeting migrants.
The Justice Department issued subpoenas in January to Walz, state Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and other officials, saying it was investigating possible obstruction of immigration law enforcement.
Schiltz said the subpoenas were legally invalid, adding that constitutional limits prevent the federal government from forcing states to implement federal law in this manner. He said evidence that the subpoenas were issued for improper purposes was overwhelming and that the Justice Department had failed to provide a plausible justification.
The dispute stemmed from a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota in late 2025 and early 2026 involving more than 3,000 federal agents, according to court filings. Democratic officials strongly criticized the operation, with Walz calling it a "campaign of organized brutality" and pledging state investigations into alleged abuses.
