Federal judge invalidates Justice Department subpoenas to Minnesota officials

A federal judge ruled in June 2026 that the Trump administration broke the law when it sent subpoenas to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and five other officials. The subpoenas were part of a federal immigration operation in Minnesota. Judge Patrick Schiltz found that the Justice Department misused its investigative powers when it demanded information from the officials. He cancelled all six subpoenas. Minnesota and Twin Cities officials had already filed a lawsuit arguing that the immigration operation violated the constitution, specifically the 10th Amendment. A different judge refused to stop the operation itself. The Justice Department had argued that Minnesota was trying to block federal law enforcement authority. The ruling means that federal agencies must follow legal limits on how they investigate, even during large enforcement operations.