A federal judge has declined to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity near Minnesota schools, allowing federal enforcement operations to continue while a broader legal challenge moves forward in court.
The ruling represents an early setback for school districts and educators seeking to limit immigration enforcement around school grounds.
U.S. District Judge Laura Provinzino, appointed by former President Joe Biden, rejected a request from several Minnesota school districts and the state teachers union for a preliminary injunction that would have restricted federal immigration enforcement near schools.
The plaintiffs argued that increased federal presence has contributed to fear among families, lower student attendance, and disruptions to school operations.
The court found the plaintiffs were unlikely to establish standing, a key requirement to proceed with the case.
As a result, the judge also determined they were unlikely to succeed on the merits at this stage of litigation.
The ruling addressed the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) 2025 policy shift, noting that it did not expand federal authority but instead changed how existing enforcement discretion is applied.
The court emphasized that the update reflected enforcement priorities rather than any change in legal power, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported.
The dispute stems from a January 2025 DHS policy that rescinded earlier guidance discouraging immigration enforcement in so-called “sensitive locations,” including schools, hospitals, and places of worship.
Under the prior framework, enforcement in those areas was generally limited to rare or urgent circumstances involving safety or national security concerns.
The revised policy gives federal agents broader discretion in deciding when and where enforcement actions may occur, including during operations in the Minneapolis–St. Paul region, according to The Daily Signal.
School districts argued the change led to enforcement activity near school properties during “Operation Metro Surge.”
Court filings referenced incidents in which federal agents were present near school grounds during enforcement operations, including one at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis that escalated after individuals allegedly interfered with officers.
According to FOX 9, officials said the incident heightened anxiety among students and families, particularly in immigrant communities.
The lawsuit, brought by Fridley Public Schools, Duluth Public Schools, and Education Minnesota, argued that increased enforcement activity has contributed to student withdrawals and shifts toward remote learning in some cases, along with financial strain tied to enrollment-based funding.
The teachers union also said staff members have spent additional time on training and guidance related to immigration enforcement concerns, reducing time available for instructional and support duties.
However, the court noted uncertainty over whether these impacts were directly caused by the 2025 DHS policy or instead reflected broader immigration enforcement activity during Operation Metro Surge.
The judge further wrote that reinstating earlier guidance would not necessarily resolve the concerns raised by plaintiffs, noting that fears surrounding immigration enforcement would likely persist regardless of policy language changes.
DHS has defended the updated framework as a discretionary policy that allows agents to make case-by-case decisions rather than imposing strict limits on enforcement locations. The agency has not publicly commented on the ruling.
Plaintiffs had sought to block enforcement within 1,000 feet of school property while litigation continues, arguing that schools have traditionally been treated as protected environments for students, Courthouse News reported.
Although the court denied immediate relief, it stressed that the ruling was procedural and not a final determination on the legality of the policy itself. The case will proceed through further stages of litigation.
For now, the decision leaves the 2025 DHS policy in place and maintains federal enforcement authority near schools in Minnesota, setting up an ongoing legal dispute over immigration enforcement, public safety concerns, and schools as sensitive locations.
