Federal Choose Patrick Schiltz could have known as off the fast showdown with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, however nobody ought to mistake that procedural pause for a truce.
As previously reported, the George W. Bush–appointed decide has been more and more exasperated with the Trump administration’s strategy to immigration enforcement in Minnesota, particularly ICE’s obvious allergy to complying with courtroom orders. In a previous order, Schiltz took the extraordinary step of ordering Todd Lyons, ICE’s appearing director, to personally seem in courtroom to clarify why the company shouldn’t be held in contempt. As a result of the federal government lastly launched the detained particular person on the middle of the case, Schiltz canceled the listening to that might have required Lyons to look. ICE, no less than this time, blinked. However Schiltz made very clear that compliance underneath risk doesn’t erase a sample of misconduct.
Yesterday, Schiltz issued an order — a biting one at that — that the discharge of 1 particular person after the specter of sanctions “doesn’t finish the Court docket’s considerations.” And went on to list some 96! different immigration instances the place the federal government is ignoring courtroom orders. “ICE isn’t a legislation unto itself. ICE has each proper to problem the orders of this
Court docket, however, like all litigant, ICE should observe these orders until and till they’re overturned or vacated,” Schiltz wrote.
“This record ought to give pause to anybody — regardless of his or her political views — who cares in regards to the rule of legislation,” he defined. Then got here the bleakest evaluation of what’s occurring within the Minnesota federal courts, “ICE has seemingly violated extra courtroom orders in January 2026 than some federal businesses have violated of their total existence.”
Issues are fairly dire in Minnesota, and Choose Schiltz is ringing the rule of legislation warning bell.
Earlier: Bush-Appointed Federal Judge To ICE: Comply With Court Courts. ICE: You’ve Got Us There!
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Regulation, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are one of the best, so please join together with her. Be at liberty to electronic mail her with any suggestions, questions, or feedback and observe her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
