Federal Judge Blocks ICE From Targeting Peaceful Protests

Photo by Georgia Fort

A federal judge in Minnesota has issued an injunction limiting ICE tactics used against protesters in Minneapolis. The court found that actions like pointing weapons, using pepper spray, threatening arrests, and detaining observers violates people’s First Amendment rights.  

While the case moves forward, ICE and other federal officers are barred from retaliating against peaceful protest activity, arresting or detailing peaceful protesters, using pepper spray or other non-lethal munitions on crowds, or stopping people without good cause. 

The judge also made clear that simply observing the Department of Human Service's (DHS) Operation Metro Surge is not grounds for arrest, retaliation, or enforcement. 

The case, Tincher v. Noem, was filed in December by Minneapolis residents and later backed by Minnesota officials challenging the Trump administration's immigration enforcement surge known as “Operation Metro Surge.”