Federal judge orders ICE director to Minneapolis court over Metro Surge due‑process violations
Federal Judge Patrick Schiltz has ordered Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to appear at a 1 p.m. Friday hearing in Minneapolis federal court to explain why detainees were denied due process during the Metro Surge. Schiltz’s order says the Trump administration sent “thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision” for the resulting habeas cases and that violations continue despite assurances — noting a petitioner granted relief on Jan. 14 remained in custody as of Jan. 23, prompting a show‑cause order and possible contempt; ICE and DHS had not yet responded on the docket, and the order comes as the administration reshuffled Metro Surge leadership, naming Tom Homan and pulling some agents, including Commander Greg Bovino.
📌 Key Facts
- Federal Judge Patrick Schiltz ordered Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to appear in Minneapolis federal court at 1 p.m. Friday to explain why detainees were denied due process and to respond to a show‑cause order that could lead to contempt proceedings.
- In his order Schiltz criticized the Trump administration for sending "thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision" for the resulting habeas cases and wrote that "violations continue" despite prior assurances.
- The show‑cause order arises from a habeas case in which a detainee's petition was granted on Jan. 14 but the person remained in custody as of Jan. 23.
- The filings link the timing of Schiltz's order to President Trump's decision to put border czar Tom Homan in charge of Operation Metro Surge and to withdraw Commander Greg Bovino and some agents from Minnesota.
- As of publication, neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security had filed a response on the court docket to Schiltz's order.
📊 Relevant Data
Venezuelan immigrants in the United States have an incarceration rate of 241 per 100,000, which is lower than the rates for many other immigrant groups and native-born Americans.
Illegal Immigrant Incarceration Rates, 2010–2023 — Cato Institute
Undocumented immigrants have a 41% lower total criminal conviction rate than native-born Americans.
No, undocumented immigrant crime rate isn't higher as Trump claimed — Congress.gov
US economic sanctions are a major driver of migration from Venezuela to the United States.
Economic Sanctions: A Root Cause of Migration - Summary — CEPR
Undocumented immigrants in Minnesota contributed $222 million in state and local taxes in 2022.
Undocumented immigrants contribute $222 million in Minnesota taxes — Minnesota Budget Project
Immigrants in Minnesota have a spending power of over $12.4 billion annually and paid $4.5 billion in taxes in 2019, contributing to business revitalization.
The Economic Contributions of Immigrants in Minnesota — Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Identifies the specific ICE official ordered to appear: Acting Director Todd Lyons, and confirms the hearing is set for 1 p.m. Friday in Minneapolis federal court.
- Quotes directly from Judge Patrick Schiltz’s order that the Trump administration sent 'thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision' for the resulting habeas cases and that 'violations continue' despite prior assurances.
- Clarifies that in the underlying habeas case, the detainee’s petition was granted Jan. 14 yet the person was still in custody as of Jan. 23, prompting the show‑cause order and potential contempt.
- Notes that as of publication, ICE and DHS had not yet responded on the docket to Schiltz’s order.
- Links the order’s timing to Trump’s move to put border czar Tom Homan in charge of Operation Metro Surge and to pull Commander Greg Bovino and some agents out of Minnesota.