The top federal judge in Minnesota has stated that the Trump administration has not followed directives to conduct hearings for detained immigrants. Consequently, the judge has summoned the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to appear before him on Friday to provide justification for potential contempt charges.
Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz issued an order on Monday, criticizing Todd Lyons, the acting ICE director, for the administration’s handling of bond hearings for detained immigrants.
Schiltz highlighted that the administration dispatched “thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without proper preparation for addressing the numerous habeas petitions and lawsuits that were anticipated.”
This action comes after U.S. President Donald Trump assigned border chief Tom Homan to lead the immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota following the second fatality involving an immigration officer this month.
Trump mentioned in an interview aired on Tuesday that he had positive discussions with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, echoing his initial comments after the conversations.
When questioned about the shooting of Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol officer on Saturday as he left the White House, Trump stated that a thorough investigation was ongoing.
Walz Advocates for Impartial Inquiries
On Tuesday, Walz’s office disclosed that the governor, a Democrat, had discussions with Homan and stressed the importance of unbiased investigations into the incidents involving federal officers. They agreed to maintain ongoing dialogue.
Similarly, Frey and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara reported a constructive meeting with Homan, emphasizing that city officials would continue engaging with the border chief.
The White House initially sought to blame Democratic leaders for the protests against federal officers conducting immigration raids. However, following Pretti’s death on Saturday and video evidence suggesting he posed no immediate threat, the administration appointed Homan to oversee operations in Minnesota, replacing Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino.