Child Health and Welfare

At a consolidated habeas hearing, U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell sharply rebuked DOJ, DHS and ICE after finding repeated violations of his release orders and other detention irregularities, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie T. Le told the court "the system sucks," admitted prosecutors had violated prior orders, said she was overwhelmed by the caseload and has since been removed from her temporary detail. The federal Operation Metro Surge — which DHS cites arrests of people with prior convictions — has also produced widespread fear and trauma in Twin Cities communities (including business losses in St. Paul’s Hmong Village, detained children, and reports of chemical irritant use), prompting accusations from Minnesota officials of racial profiling and political retribution and renewed demands from legislators for DOJ records and oversight.