Case: Choi v. U.S Department of Homeland Security

0:26-cv-03301 | U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Filed Date: July 15, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary as we research the case.)

On July 15, 2026, the Ramsey County Attorney and the Ramsey County Sheriff filed this lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and its Secretary, bringing claims. The suit arose from a January 2026 incident during "Operation Metro Surge," DHS's large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota. In one particular incident, masked and armed federal agents broke into the home of a U.S. citizen, handcuffed him, and drove him around for roughly an hour before returning him home.The plaintiffs alleged that DHS ignored their formal demand for records and testimony with no lawful basis. They claimed the agency's delay violated the APA, and that a broader policy of refusing to cooperate with state investigations intruded on the state's sovereign authority to enforce its own criminal laws under the 10th Amendment.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73618579/parties/choi-v-us-department-of-homeland-security/


Judge(s)

Tostrud, Eric Christian (Minnesota)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bacon, Brett (Minnesota)

Haase, Mark Andrew (Minnesota)

Nguyen, Hao Quang (Minnesota)

Attorney for Defendant

Sekus, Perry (Minnesota)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

0:26-cv-03301

Complaint

Choi et al. v. U.S Department of Homeland Security et al.

July 15, 2026

July 15, 2026

Complaint
9

0:26-cv-03301

Amended Complaint

Choi et al. v. U.S Department of Homeland Security et al.

Aug. 4, 2026

Aug. 4, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73618579/choi-v-us-department-of-homeland-security/

Last updated Aug. 30, 2026, 3:07 a.m.

Docket for: Choi v. U.S Department of Homeland Security
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 July 15, 2026

COMPLAINT against Markwayne Mullin, U.S Department of Homeland Security (filing fee $ 405, receipt number AMNDC-13114712) filed by John Choi, Bob Fletcher. Filer requests summons issued. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit(s) 1, # 2 Exhibit(s) 2, # 3 Exhibit(s) 3, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet, # 5 Addendum Civil Cover Sheet) (Bacon, Brett) (Entered: 07/15/2026)

1 Exhibit(s) 1

View on RECAP

2 Exhibit(s) 2

View on RECAP

3 Exhibit(s) 3

View on RECAP

4 Civil Cover Sheet

View on RECAP

5 Addendum Civil Cover Sheet

View on RECAP

Clearinghouse
2 July 15, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Mark Haase on behalf of John Choi, Bob Fletcher. (Bacon, Brett) Modified text on 7/15/2026 (ACH). (Entered: 07/15/2026)

RECAP
3 July 15, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Hao Nguyen on behalf of John Choi, Bob Fletcher. (Bacon, Brett) Modified text on 7/15/2026 (ACH). (Entered: 07/15/2026)

RECAP
4 July 15, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Brett Bacon on behalf of John Choi, Bob Fletcher. (Bacon, Brett) (Entered: 07/15/2026)

RECAP
5 July 15, 2026

(Text-Only) CLERK'S NOTICE OF INITIAL CASE ASSIGNMENT. Case assigned to Judge Eric C. Tostrud per Civil (3rd, 4th - Master) list, referred to Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright. Please use case number 26-cv-3301 (ECT/ECW).Notice: All Nongovernmental Corporate Parties must file a Rule 7.1 Corporate Disclosure Statement. (MKB) (Entered: 07/15/2026)

RECAP
6 July 15, 2026

Summons Issued as to Markwayne Mullin, U.S Department of Homeland Security. (MKB) (Entered: 07/15/2026)

RECAP
7 July 16, 2026

SUMMONS Returned Executed as to USA by John Choi, Bob Fletcher. Markwayne Mullin served on 7/15/2026, answer due 9/14/2026; U.S Department of Homeland Security served on 7/15/2026, answer due 9/14/2026. (Bacon, Brett) (Entered: 07/16/2026)

RECAP
8 July 24, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Perry Sekus on behalf of Markwayne Mullin, U.S Department of Homeland Security. (Sekus, Perry) (Entered: 07/24/2026)

RECAP
9 Aug. 4, 2026

AMENDED COMPLAINT against Markwayne Mullin, U.S Department of Homeland Security. filed by John Choi, Bob Fletcher. No summons requested. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit(s) 1, # 2 Exhibit(s) 2, # 3 Exhibit(s) 3, # 4 Exhibit(s) 4, # 5 Exhibit(s) 5) (Haase, Mark) (Entered: 08/04/2026)

1 Exhibit(s) 1

View on PACER

2 Exhibit(s) 2

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3 Exhibit(s) 3

View on PACER

4 Exhibit(s) 4

View on PACER

5 Exhibit(s) 5

View on PACER

Clearinghouse
10 Aug. 10, 2026

SUMMONS Returned Executed as to USA by John Choi, Bob Fletcher. Markwayne Mullin served on 8/5/2026, answer due 10/5/2026; U.S Department of Homeland Security served on 8/5/2026, answer due 10/5/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit of Service Markwayne Mullin)(Bacon, Brett) (Entered: 08/10/2026)

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

Minnesota

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: July 15, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Ramsey County officials

Plaintiff Type(s):

City/County Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

Department of Homeland Security

Defendant Type(s):

Law-enforcement

Case Details

Constitutional Clause(s):

Federalism (including 10th Amendment)

Other Dockets:

District of Minnesota 0:26-cv-03301

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Declaratory judgment

Document/Information

Injunction

Issues

Immigration/Border:

ICE/DHS/INS raid

Recommended Citation