Politics

Federal judges in Minnesota issue rulings limiting immigration enforcement actions

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Jan 30, 2026

THE BARE STORY

Two federal judges in Minnesota issued separate orders this week curbing specific federal immigration enforcement efforts. The rulings addressed the detention of refugees with legal status and cited widespread noncompliance with court orders by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John Tunheim issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the administration from detaining refugees in Minnesota solely because they have not yet adjusted their status to lawful permanent residents. The order requires the government to "immediately release" any person covered by the ruling and mandates that those detained outside the state be returned within five days. The decision stems from a legal challenge to "Operation PARRIS," a Department of Homeland Security program involving the review of approximately 5,600 refugee cases. The International Refugee Assistance Project alleged that federal authorities had arrested and detained individuals without notice or warrants during a broader crackdown that has led to roughly 3,400 arrests.

In a separate development, Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz withdrew a threat to hold acting ICE Director Todd Lyons in contempt of court. The potential contempt citation arose after ICE failed to comply with a January 14 order to either grant a bond hearing to detainee Juan Hugo Tobay Robles or release him. Although the hearing was canceled after Tobay Robles was released, Judge Schiltz noted that ICE has violated 96 court orders across 74 cases since January 1, 2026. The judge stated that this level of noncompliance should concern anyone who cares about the rule of law.

Administration officials strongly criticized Judge Tunheim's order regarding refugee detention. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller described the ruling as "judicial sabotage," while a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesperson called it a "lawless and activist order" and defended the operation as an anti-fraud measure. Conversely, a staff attorney for the plaintiffs stated the order provides necessary protection for resettled refugees who were being unlawfully targeted.

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• The court's intervention is viewed as judicial sabotage White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller strongly criticized Judge Tunheim's ruling regarding refugee detention, describing it as "judicial sabotage." A spokesperson for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services further condemned the decision, characterizing it as a "lawless and activist order."

• Enforcement operations are defended as anti-fraud measures Administration officials argued that "Operation PARRIS," the Department of Homeland Security program being challenged, is a necessary measure designed to combat fraud. The operation involves reviewing approximately 5,600 refugee cases and has already led to roughly 3,400 arrests as part of a broader crackdown.

• The threat of contempt against ICE leadership was withdrawn Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz withdrew a potential contempt citation against acting ICE Director Todd Lyons regarding the case of detainee Juan Hugo Tobay Robles. The threat was removed after the detainee was released, resolving the specific issue of failing to grant a bond hearing or release the individual by the court's deadline.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

Refugees in Minnesota who have not adjusted to permanent resident status must be released immediately and cannot be detained solely for that reason under the new court order.

The Department of Homeland Security's "Operation PARRIS" faces operational delays in Minnesota, preventing the arrest of specific refugees without warrants during the program's ongoing review.

Documented noncompliance by ICE with court orders may result in increased judicial scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement and potential legal sanctions against agency leadership.

Federal authorities must utilize resources to transport covered detainees held outside the state back to Minnesota within five days to comply with the temporary restraining order.

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