ICE twice unlawfully detained Minnesota student despite court order
Records obtained by FOX 9 show that international student Mohammed Hoque, enrolled at Minnesota State Mankato, was wrongfully detained by ICE for a second time during Operation Metro Surge despite a prior federal court order barring his detention. Hoque first spent 40 days in ICE custody last spring, and U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell ruled then that DHS had targeted him over his outspoken support for Palestinian rights, ordering his release on a $7,500 immigration bond. In mid‑January, masked ICE agents allegedly entered his family’s Mankato home without a warrant, handcuffed him in his pajamas in front of his family, and held him for more than six hours at the Whipple Federal Building, telling him they "did not care" about the court order even as he protested. The government has since admitted in a filing that "Mr. Hoque should not have been re-arrested," blaming agents for failing to check the system that showed the order, while Magistrate Judge David Schultz has flagged "serious concerns" and warned that ignorance of easily accessible court records does not excuse noncompliance. Hoque remains in removal proceedings despite his student status, and the case is now back before a federal judge on possible contempt, feeding broader worries among Twin Cities advocates that the rushed pace of the surge is steamrolling basic legal safeguards.
📌 Key Facts
- Hoque, a Minnesota State Mankato student, was first detained by ICE for 40 days last spring and released after Judge Jerry Blackwell found he was targeted for pro‑Palestinian advocacy.
- In mid‑January, during Operation Metro Surge, masked ICE agents allegedly entered his Mankato home without a warrant, handcuffed him in his pajamas, and held him over six hours at the Whipple Federal Building.
- The government has admitted in court that "Mr. Hoque should not have been re-arrested" and that agents failed to consult the system showing the prior court order, prompting Magistrate Judge David Schultz to raise "serious concerns" about repeated noncompliance with judicial orders.
📊 Relevant Data
Somali-born immigrants in Minnesota have an adjusted incarceration rate of approximately 5,030 per 100,000 for males ages 18-29, compared to 2,450 per 100,000 for U.S.-born males, indicating they are roughly twice as likely to be incarcerated.
Yes, Somali Immigrants Commit More Crime Than Natives — City Journal
Somali immigrants have over 4.5 times the odds of incarceration compared to native non-Hispanic Whites for males ages 18-64, with a rate of 1,280 per 100,000.
Yes, Somali Immigrants Commit More Crime Than Natives — City Journal
Nearly 75,000 people with no criminal record have been detained by ICE since December 2025.
New data: Nearly 75,000 arrested by I.C.E. have no criminal record — CNN
Federal judges have ruled more than 4,400 times as of mid-February 2026 that specific ICE detentions were unlawful.
As of 25 January 2026, >74% of people in ICE detention (52504 out ... — X (formerly Twitter)
The Somali population in Minnesota is estimated between 80,000 and 100,000, mostly arriving as refugees due to Somalia's civil war in the 1990s, facilitated by U.S. refugee visas since 1992 and the Immigration Act of 1990.
Fact Check Team: Minnesota's Somali community: from refugees to political powerhouses — ABC3340
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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