A federal judge on Wednesday chose not to immediately stop an expanded round of immigration enforcement actions being carried out by the Biden administration in Minnesota, saying the court lacked sufficient time to fully examine the legal issues raised by the state’s emergency request. The ruling leaves ongoing federal operations intact while the matter undergoes deeper judicial review.

U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez presided over arguments brought by Minnesota, along with the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, which filed suit earlier in the week seeking a temporary restraining order. The plaintiffs contend that a recent surge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and other federal officers has led to unconstitutional conduct, including arrests without warrants, excessive use of force, and violations of civil liberties across the state.

During the hearing, Menendez emphasized that the legal questions presented are unusually complex and lack extensive precedent. She said those circumstances made it impossible to issue a decision on the same day, noting that disputes over the limits of federal immigration authority in such situations remain largely uncharted in constitutional law.

The judge set an expedited briefing schedule, requiring the U.S. Justice Department to submit its response by January 19, followed by additional filings from state officials by January 22. A decision on whether to grant or deny the temporary restraining order is expected later in the month, once the court has reviewed the full arguments from both sides.

State leaders, including Attorney General Keith Ellison, argued that the aggressive tactics have damaged community trust and placed residents at risk. Federal attorneys responded that they were given little time to address the lawsuit and maintained that the enforcement actions are lawful, necessary, and well within federal authority.

The lawsuit arises amid heightened tension following the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis, an incident that has sparked protests and intensified scrutiny. Despite the controversy, federal officials say the operations will continue for now, as the court weighs whether any limits should be imposed.