Federal judge quashes DOJ subpoenas targeting Minnesota officials

A federal judge in Minnesota has quashed grand jury subpoenas the Justice Department issued to Gov. Tim Walz and other state and local officials in connection with an immigration-enforcement probe.

U.S. District Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz blocked the subpoenas on June 22, according to reporting that first surfaced from AP and was later confirmed by other outlets. The ruling is a significant setback for the federal investigation and a rare judicial intervention in a grand jury matter.

What the subpoenas targeted

The subpoenas were issued in January during Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration-enforcement campaign in Minnesota.

The officials named in the reporting include Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. The research packet indicates the order covered additional recipients as well, though not every target is identified.

Why the court acted

Schiltz found the subpoenas were intended to coerce Minnesota officials into helping federal civil immigration enforcement. He also concluded they were meant to harass and retaliate against officials for not cooperating.

That reasoning goes to the heart of the government’s investigative posture in Minnesota. It also turns the subpoena fight into a broader clash over how far federal authorities can go in pressuring state and local officials to assist immigration enforcement.

Reaction in Minnesota

Minnesota officials described the ruling as confirmation that the federal effort was politically motivated. Ellison posted the unsealed court order, according to the reporting, and the decision was described as extremely rare.

The ruling leaves the Justice Department with an immediate choice: whether to appeal, seek a different process, or continue the underlying inquiry by other means.

What happens next

The order may also affect any remaining DOJ investigative or enforcement efforts tied to Operation Metro Surge. It could prompt related motions or new filings if federal officials try to revive part of the probe.

For now, the decision sharply limits the government’s ability to use subpoenas to pressure Minnesota leaders in the immigration fight and gives state officials a major legal and political win.

The broader dispute stems from the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota earlier in 2026, and state officials have argued that the campaign and related investigations were retaliatory. This ruling gives that argument fresh weight in court.