The top federal judge in Minnesota has accused the Trump administration of not following court orders for hearings for detained immigrants and has demanded the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to appear in court to explain potential contempt charges. Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz criticized the administration for its handling of bond hearings for detained immigrants, stating that the administration failed to prepare for the influx of petitions and lawsuits resulting from detentions.
This order comes after U.S. President Donald Trump assigned Tom Homan, the border czar, to oversee the immigration enforcement activities in Minnesota following a recent incident where a person was killed by an immigration law enforcement officer. Trump mentioned having discussions with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey regarding the matter. The President mentioned an ongoing investigation into the killing of Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol officer.
Governor Walz emphasized the need for impartial investigations into the shootings involving federal officers, following his meeting with Homan. Mayor Frey and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara also held talks with Homan, focusing on maintaining open communication with federal authorities.
The White House initially blamed Democratic leaders for protests against federal officers conducting immigration operations. However, after the controversial incident involving Pretti, Homan was appointed to lead the immigration efforts in Minnesota instead of Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino.
Immigration enforcement activities were observed in the Twin Cities area on Tuesday, with uncertainties surrounding potential changes in tactics following the administration’s shift in leadership. Despite apparent calm in certain Minneapolis neighborhoods where immigration agents were previously seen, agents were spotted in other areas like northeast Minneapolis and Little Canada.
Judge Schiltz’s order follows a federal court hearing where state officials and city mayors requested a halt to the surge in immigration law enforcement activities. He acknowledged the extraordinary nature of ordering the head of a federal agency to appear in court but emphasized the severity of ICE’s non-compliance with court orders.
The order highlighted a specific case involving a detainee from Ecuador named Juan T.R., who was supposed to have a bond hearing within seven days of a court ruling. If the detainee is released from custody, the appearance of ICE’s acting director will be canceled. Efforts to reach ICE and DHS for comments on the matter were unsuccessful.
