The ruling marks a setback for an investigation targeting state Democratic officials who criticized immigration raids.
Published June 22, 2026
A U.S. judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s administration’s effort to subpoena Democratic state officials in the midwestern state of Minnesota, a setback in the government’s efforts to investigate officials who have voiced opposition to the government’s massive deportation raids.
In a ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schultz canceled subpoenas issued to Gov. Tim Walz and other officials as part of a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation launched at the height of the crackdown.
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“The court finds that the primary purpose of the challenged subpoenas is to compel Minnesota state employees to assist the federal government in enforcing civil immigration laws, and to harass and retaliate against those employees who fail to do so,” Schultz said in his ruling. The order was issued on June 17 and unsealed on Monday.
The Trump administration faces persistent criticism for using threats of prosecution and investigations to target perceived political opponents and domestic adversaries.
The subpoenas issued to six state officials sought extensive information about whether their opposition to the government raids amounted to an attempt to obstruct federal authorities. The Trump administration recently announced charges against 15 Minnesota activists who were members of a group opposed to the attacks, citing a directive to “counter domestic terrorism and organized political violence.”
These attacks sparked widespread protests in the state, especially after the shooting deaths of two Americans by federal agents. State officials denounced the attack as a power grab and an attempt to intimidate the city, seen as a center of resistance to the regime.
Walz, a Democrat who served as Kamala Harris’ running mate in the 2024 presidential election and has been a frequent target of Trump’s ire, welcomed the ruling in a statement on Monday.
“Today’s ruling is a victory for the rule of law and our democracy. A federal district judge has determined that the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation of me and other Minnesota congressmen is politically motivated, unconstitutional, and without merit,” Walz said in a statement shared on social media.
“I will never stop exercising my constitutional rights to stand up for Minnesotans and the American freedoms we hold dear.”
