Judge slams ICE violations amid growing backlash

ICE agents point at observers in Minneapolis — A backlash against Trump's deportation agenda 'has begun to break out across American culture'

(Image credit: Madison Thorn / Anadolu via Getty Images)

What happened

The chief federal judge in Minnesota Wednesday sharply criticized ICE for violating at least 96 court orders this month during its operations in Minneapolis. “ICE is not a law unto itself,” U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz wrote in a four-page order that canceled a contempt hearing he had scheduled Friday for ICE acting Director Todd Lyons. Shortly after Schiltz issued his rebuke, U.S. District Judge John Tunheim ordered federal agents to stop detaining lawful refugees in Minnesota, release those currently in custody and return any transported out of state.

Who said what

Schiltz, a George W. Bush appointee, said his list of violations “certainly substantially understated” the problem, as his 96 examples were “hurriedly compiled by extraordinarily busy judges” in his district. “This list should give pause to anyone — no matter his or her political beliefs — who cares about the rule of law,” he said. “ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence.”

“Many of Schiltz’s colleagues” have “similarly vented about ICE’s recalcitrance in recent orders,” Politico said. “Much of the conflict with the judges in Minnesota” is driven by the Trump administration’s precedent-defying “mandatory detention for all immigrants facing deportation,” The Washington Post said. Nationally, an “overwhelming majority of judges — including many Trump appointees — have ruled” it “unlawful” to detain migrants without a bond hearing, and the judges in Minnesota “have repeatedly expressed exasperation” that the administration has denied such hearings, failed to release migrants or shipped them out of state “despite orders that ICE keep them in Minnesota.”

Meanwhile, the “fierce backlash” against Trump’s deportation agenda “has begun to break out across American culture,” sparking a “broad cultural revolt” spanning business, sports and entertainment, The Associated Press said. Bruce Springsteen Wednesday released a new song, “Streets of Minneapolis,” valorizing the city’s stand against “Trump’s federal thugs” and mourning their killing of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Martha Stewart lamented on social media that “we can be attacked and even killed by federal troops.”

What next?

The Justice Department is “bracing for a new wave of resignations” at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota amid “concerns within the office that the administration is taking potentially unlawful steps” in its Minneapolis raids, CNN said. Such an exodus could “decimate” the office as it pursues “cases against immigrants and protesters.”

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.