A Minnesota judge has taken serious action against the acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director, Todd Lyons. The judge summoned Lyons to court on Friday to discuss why he should not be held in contempt of court over failing to comply with a previous order regarding a detainee named Juan T.R.
In January, the court issued a habeas petition, requiring ICE to conduct a bond hearing for T.R. within seven days. If that hearing did not take place, the judge warned that T.R. would need to be “immediately released.” However, T.R.’s legal counsel informed the court that this hearing had not occurred, leading to the judge’s latest order.
The judge’s frustration is clear. He noted the court’s previous patience with ICE’s actions, particularly given the agency’s deployment of numerous agents to Minnesota without a plan to handle the inevitable habeas petitions. “This Court has been extremely patient with respondents…” Judge Patrick J. Schiltz stated, underscoring the lack of foresight in ICE’s approach.
The ruling showcases the escalating tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the state. Judge Schiltz emphasized that the ongoing violations warranted an extraordinary measure: requiring Lyons to appear in court. He also pointed out that previous attempts to resolve these issues without such action had been unsuccessful.
Adding to the backdrop of this legal standoff are two recent fatal shootings involving immigration enforcement. The first incident, on January 7, resulted in the death of Renee Nicole Good, igniting public protests against federal law enforcement in the area. Just a week later, Alex Jeffrey Pretti was shot by a Border Patrol agent during an operation targeting an illegal immigrant with a violent past.
DHS officials reported that Pretti allegedly approached agents with a gun and resisted their attempts to disarm him. However, his family disputes this claim, stating that he was unarmed and only holding his phone, raising serious questions about the incident. “The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,” they wrote, with a plea for the truth to be told.
The mounting pressure on ICE and federal law enforcement in Minnesota signals a broader conflict between local concerns and national immigration policies. Judge Schiltz’s firm stance shows that the judiciary is willing to hold those in power to account when they fail to meet legal obligations, particularly in matters of public safety and individual rights.
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