Friday, February 13, 2026-Minnesota state leaders and federal immigration chiefs were in the spotlight Thursday as they testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in a tense, high-stakes hearing on immigration enforcement.
The session came amid weeks of controversy over aggressive federal operations in Minnesota that have drawn national scrutiny, including the controversial Minneapolis-area enforcement campaign known as Operation Metro Surge and related fatal shootings. Senators grilled witnesses on coordination failures, use-of-force policies, and transparency, underscoring deep concerns about accountability and civilian safety.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison delivered some of the most forceful criticism, accusing federal immigration authorities of stonewalling investigations into the deaths of civilians during enforcement actions and of operating without basic transparency or cooperation with state law enforcement.
State corrections officials testified that federal agencies did not share target lists or plans ahead of time, leaving local law enforcement scrambling during chaotic scenes. Meanwhile, critics on the panel used visceral video from one fatal encounter to challenge federal tactics, suggesting that the killings of protestors — including a Minneapolis ICU nurse — reflected poor training and excessive force rather than legitimate self-defense.
Republican lawmakers at the hearing pushed back sharply, blaming Minnesota’s sanctuary policies and lack of cooperation with federal agents for the unrest and safety breakdowns. They argued that local resistance to shared enforcement made federal operations more dangerous and complicated.
The debate illuminated a widening rift between state and federal approaches to immigration control, with broad implications for national policy and public trust in law enforcement institutions. As the fallout from the Minnesota operation continues, lawmakers signaled that further legislative and oversight actions are likely.
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