Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz in Minnesota has ordered Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to appear in court Friday to explain why he should not be held in contempt for allegedly violating court orders related to immigration enforcement. The judge accused ICE of repeatedly failing to comply with directives, including releasing detained immigrants as ordered.
Immediate Action & Core Facts
Schiltz’s three-page order, issued Monday, follows weeks of legal challenges to Operation Metro Surge, a Trump administration-led immigration enforcement campaign in Minneapolis-St. Paul. The judge cited dozens of unfulfilled court orders, including one mandating a bond hearing for a detained immigrant who remained in custody as of Monday night.
The order marks an escalation in tensions between federal courts and ICE, with Schiltz stating, This Court’s patience is at an end.
Other Minnesota judges have also criticized ICE for allegedly defying court directives and denying due process to noncitizens.
Deeper Dive & Context
Background on Operation Metro Surge
The operation, launched under the Trump administration, has faced legal scrutiny over its aggressive tactics, including mass detentions and alleged unlawful arrests. Judges have consistently ruled in favor of immigrants challenging their detentions, but ICE has been accused of delaying or ignoring these rulings.
Schiltz noted that ICE’s actions have caused significant hardship, including detainees being sent to Texas instead of Minnesota or released far from home without transportation. Other judges, such as U.S. District Judge Michael Davis, have accused the administration of attempting to defy court orders and deny noncitizens their due process rights.
Broader Legal Challenges
Several Minnesota federal judges are now considering broader legal challenges that could restrict ICE’s enforcement actions or halt Operation Metro Surge entirely. One case is examining whether the deployment of 3,000 immigration agents constitutes an unconstitutional occupation, a claim that gained momentum after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a federal officer.
Administration Response
President Trump has appointed Tom Homan, a former ICE official, to oversee the crackdown in Minnesota following the second fatal shooting by immigration enforcement this month. The administration has not yet publicly responded to Schiltz’s order, though CNBC and other outlets have requested comment from ICE.
Judge’s Rationale
Schiltz acknowledged that summoning a federal agency head to court is an extraordinary step
, but he argued that ICE’s violations were equally extraordinary. He stated that lesser measures have been tried and failed,
justifying the need for Lyons’ personal appearance.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between federal courts and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement, with legal experts watching closely for potential precedents on judicial oversight of executive actions.