Federal judge rebukes DHS mandatory detention in Minneapolis case
U.S. District Court Judge Laura Provinzino has sharply criticized the Trump administration’s use of a 'mandatory-detention' policy in immigration cases, ruling it unlawful and ordering DHS to give Minneapolis resident Roberto Mata Fuentes a bond hearing or release after he was held 50 days in Sherburne County Jail without bond eligibility. Mata Fuentes, a Mexican national who has lived in Minnesota for more than 20 years, has no criminal record, holds a work permit and is pursuing a U visa; an immigration judge has since granted him $3,500 bond, allowing him to reunite with his wife and three U.S.-born children in time for Christmas while his deportation case continues. The ruling notes that federal judges nationwide have told the government nearly 300 times that this detention scheme is unlawful, yet DHS continues to apply it amid an intensified raid campaign in Minnesota.
📌 Key Facts
- Judge Laura Provinzino ruled that DHS’s 'mandatory-detention scheme' is unlawful and ordered an immediate bond hearing or release for Roberto Mata Fuentes.
- Mata Fuentes, a 48-year-old Minneapolis father of three with no criminal record, was arrested by ICE on his way to work Oct. 30 and held 50 days in Sherburne County Jail.
- An immigration judge granted Mata Fuentes a $3,500 bond, which he posted earlier this month, and the federal ruling notes DHS has been told 'nearly 300 times' by courts that its policy is illegal.
📊 Relevant Data
The DHS mandatory detention policy misapplies 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2), which is intended for 'applicants for admission' at borders, to long-term undocumented residents like Mata Fuentes who have lived in the US for over 20 years, instead of using § 1226(a) which allows for bond hearings.
Mata Fuentes v. Bondi et al — United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
As of November 18, 2025, federal district courts have rejected the government's mandatory detention interpretation in 282 out of 288 decisions, highlighting widespread judicial consensus against the policy.
Mata Fuentes v. Bondi et al — United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
In 2023, Minnesota had an estimated 100,000 undocumented immigrants, with 36% (36,000) from Mexico, and 43% having resided in the US for 20 or more years.
Profile of the Unauthorized Population: Minnesota — Migration Policy Institute
Among undocumented immigrants ages 15 and older in Minnesota in 2023, 41% (40,000) reside with at least one U.S.-citizen child under 18, indicating significant family ties to U.S. citizens.
Profile of the Unauthorized Population: Minnesota — Migration Policy Institute
For the 1990 birth cohort, native-born Americans had an 11% lifetime incarceration rate by age 33, compared to 3% for all immigrants and 5% for illegal immigrants, making natives 267% more likely to be incarcerated than immigrants.
Immigrants Have Lower Lifetime Incarceration Rates than Native-Born Americans — Cato Institute
Mexican immigration to the US has been driven by economic opportunities, family reunification policies under the Immigration and Nationality Act, and factors like violence and economic instability in Mexico, with net migration from Mexico turning positive again before COVID-19 due to these pull factors.
Mexican Immigrants in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
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