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Minnesota Judge Refuses to Halt Trump’s Immigration Surge as Civil Rights Clash Deepens

Sunday, February 1, 2026 Maya Sutton | Daily Brief Editor Standard State

A federal judge in Minnesota declined to block President Trump’s massive immigration‑enforcement surge in Minneapolis–St. Paul, rejecting a lawsuit that accused DHS agents of widespread civil‑rights abuses. The operation — which sent thousands of federal agents into the Twin Cities — has already sparked weeks of protests and the killings of two U.S. citizens by federal officers.
Why it matters: This is now the most aggressive domestic enforcement push of Trump’s second term — and the legal fight over federal authority vs. state civil‑rights protections is about to explode.

Top Stories

French Tech Giant Dumps ICE‑Tracking Division After Public Outcry

Capgemini will sell off a division tied to a $365 million ICE contract used to track immigrants, following pressure from French officials and human‑rights groups. The move signals growing international backlash to U.S. immigration policy after the Minnesota killings.

Sources: The Wall Street Journal

Iran’s Gen Z Becomes the Face of the Crackdown — and the Casualties

A wave of teenagers and young adults — many under 20 — are emerging as the most visible victims of Iran’s protest crackdown. Families describe bodies found in morgues, internet blackouts hiding abuses, and a generation paying the highest price for dissent.

Sources: The Wall Street Journal

Xi Jinping Now Sole Commander Over China’s Military as Taiwan Pressure Mounts

Xi has purged nearly all top generals he once handpicked, leaving himself the sole authoritative voice over China’s armed forces. Analysts say this reduces internal friction — and increases the risk of unilateral moves against Taiwan.

Sources: The Wall Street Journal

Ukraine–Russia Talks Set for Next Week as Winter Blackouts Worsen

New U.S.-backed talks will begin Feb. 4–5 in Abu Dhabi as Ukraine faces plunging temperatures, Russian advances, and 700+ Kyiv apartment buildings without heat. Moscow still demands territorial concessions, Kyiv refuses.

Sources: Reuters

Quick Hits

  • Gaza: — Over 30 killed in new Israeli strikes — the deadliest day in months. [Source]
  • Iran — EU formally designates the IRGC as a terrorist organization, escalating diplomatic pressure. [Source]
  • Congo — Hundreds feared dead after a mine collapse in eastern DRC. [Source]
  • Canada — A separatist group is now openly asking Trump to support a breakaway movement. [Source]

What to Watch Today

Minnesota’s legal showdown is about to escalate. State officials are preparing additional filings, and civil‑rights groups are mobilizing for a broader challenge to DHS authority. If the appeals court steps in, the entire operation could shift overnight. China’s military posture is entering a new phase. With Xi now unchallenged inside the PLA, watch for cyber pressure, air‑defense probing, and political warfare aimed at Taiwan — moves designed to weaken Taipei without triggering a shooting war. Ukraine’s energy crisis is becoming a humanitarian crisis. If temperatures drop again and repairs stall, Kyiv may be forced into concessions at the Abu Dhabi talks — a dynamic Moscow is counting on.

By The Numbers

2

U.S. citizens killed by federal agents in Minnesota during the DHS surge.

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#365M

Value of Capgemini’s ICE‑tracking contract.

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700+

Kyiv apartment buildings without heat amid winter blackouts.

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30+

Palestinians killed in Gaza’s deadliest day in months.

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Bottom Line

From Minneapolis to Tehran to Taipei, the world is being reshaped by leaders who are consolidating power — and populations paying the price. Today’s stories aren’t isolated; they’re converging into a global test of authority, resistance, and who controls the narrative.

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