Protesters and federal agents frequently clash in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Federal officers dropped tear gas and sprayed eye irritants on activists in Minneapolis on Tuesday as students walked out of a suburban school to protest the Trump administration’s bold immigration crackdowns.

The government crackdown then heads to federal court, where the state of Minnesota and two mayors are asking a judge to immediately suspend the operation. A hearing on the request has not been scheduled.

Read more: Minnesota and the Twin Cities sue the federal government to stop Trump’s anti-immigration campaign

Clouds of gas filled a Minneapolis street near where immigration agent Rene Goode was shot in the head last week. A man rubbed snow at his eyes and screamed for help as agents in an unmarked Jeep sprayed an orange irritant and drove away.

It is common for people to boo, jeer, and blow orange whistles when they see heavily armed agents passing by in unmarked vehicles or walking through the streets.

“Who doesn’t have a whistle?” shouted a man carrying a bag of them.

Britta Anderson, who lives nearby and came to support neighborhood friends, said she was “outraged” to see the agents wearing tactical gear and gas masks, and wondered what their purpose was.

“I felt like the only reason they were coming here was to harass people,” Anderson said.

In Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, students protesting immigration enforcement walked out of schools, as students did elsewhere this week.

With the Department of Homeland Security pledging to send more than 2,000 immigration officers to Minnesota, the state, joined by Minneapolis and St. Paul, filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration on Monday to stop or limit the increase.

The suit says the Department of Homeland Security is violating the First Amendment and other constitutional protections by focusing on a progressive state that favors Democrats and welcomes immigrants.

“This is, in essence, a federal invasion of my Twin Cities, Minnesota, and it must stop,” said State Attorney Keith Ellison.

“What we’re seeing is thousands — thousands upon thousands — of federal agents coming to our city,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said. “And yes, they are having a tremendous impact on daily life.”

Dozens of protests or vigils have been held across the United States to honor Judd since the 37-year-old mother of three was killed.

The Department of Homeland Security says it has made more than 2,000 arrests in the state since early December, and has vowed not to back down. In response to the lawsuit, spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin accused Minnesota officials of ignoring public safety.

“President Trump’s job is to protect the American people and enforce the law — no matter who the mayor, governor or state attorney general is,” McLaughlin said.

The Trump administration has repeatedly defended the immigration agent who shot Judd, saying he acted in self-defense. But that explanation has been widely criticized by Frey, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and others based on videos of the confrontation.

Two Democratic lawmakers from Massachusetts announced Tuesday they are sponsoring a bill to make it easier to sue people and circumvent immunity protections for federal officers accused of civil rights violations. The bill does not have much chance of passing in Congress, which is controlled by Republicans.

In Wisconsin, Lieutenant Governor Sarah Rodriguez proposes that the state ban civil immigration enforcement around courthouses, hospitals, health clinics, schools, churches and other places. She hopes to succeed Governor Tony Evers, a fellow Democrat, who is not running for a third term.

“We can take a look at that, but I think banning things outright is going to intensify the actions of our people in Washington, D.C.,” Evers said, referring to the Trump administration. “They don’t tend to handle these things appropriately.”

Associated Press reporters Ed White in Detroit and Steve Karnovsky in Minneapolis contributed.