ICE Enforcement in Minnesota

Federal judges in Minnesota — Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz and District Judge Jeffrey Bryan — have escalated contempt threats against ICE and DOJ officials, warning in orders and hearings that continued noncompliance over property returns tied to the Trump‑era Operation Metro Surge could lead to criminal contempt, fines or even imprisonment. Schiltz’s Feb. 27 order, after judges and clerks documented at least 97 violations in 66 immigration cases (and 113 alleged breaches in other matters) and a disputed Feb. 9 email from U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, said DOJ sent 3,000 ICE agents without a plan to handle the resulting litigation; Bryan held an unusual hearing pressing officials to return cash, phones, passports and IDs to 28 people he found unlawfully detained, while DOJ maintains most cases are resolved and denies willful defiance.