Minneapolis, United States
News Desk
MINNEAPOLIS, ICE Agents Minnesota — A U.S. federal appeals court on Wednesday temporarily lifted a lower court injunction that had restricted immigration agents’ use of force and arrest powers against peaceful demonstrators and bystanders in Minnesota, officials said, deepening tensions in the state now grappling with widespread debate over immigration enforcement practices.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Department of Homeland Security’s request to stay an order issued last week by a federal judge in Minnesota that had barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from detaining or using force against nonviolent protesters and observers absent reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. The appellate decision allows agents to resume actions previously limited while the government pursues further review.
The legal battle unfolds against the backdrop of “Operation Metro Surge,” a large-scale immigration enforcement campaign that DHS officials describe as aimed at arresting undocumented immigrants with criminal records across the Twin Cities area. State and local officials, civil rights groups and community members have sharply criticized tactics used by ICE agents, describing them as overly aggressive and in some cases unlawfully applied.
Tensions escalated nationally in early January after a U.S. citizen, 37-year-old Renée Nicole Good, was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis during enforcement activity. Footage and independent analyses released by her family show Good was struck multiple times while inside her vehicle, prompting renewed calls for transparency into immigration enforcement and use-of-force policies.
Other incidents linked to increased ICE Agents Minnesota presence have further fueled public outcry. Photos circulating widely online showed a 56-year-old Minnesota man, ChongLy Thao, briefly detained in his underwear outside his home in subfreezing temperatures after agents mistakenly believed he matched a suspect description. Thao was released without apology after federal officials said he matched the description of individuals sought in the area.
Community concern has also risen after reports that ICE recently detained at least four minors, including a five-year-old boy, in Columbia Heights as part of enforcement actions. School administrators and local leaders described the incident as traumatic and raised questions about the agency’s conduct near schools and residential neighborhoods.
City officials and protesters argue that the presence and tactics of ICE Agents Minnesota are fracturing trust and contributing to unrest in Minnesota. Local authorities including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have demanded thorough investigations into the fatal shooting and other enforcement actions, and some state and city leaders are continuing legal challenges against federal restrictions being appealed.
Federal officials maintain that the enforcement actions, including the use of force when necessary, are lawful and essential to executing immigration laws. Justice Department attorneys argued that the original injunction was overly broad and impeded agents’ ability to perform their duties.
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