A Minnesota federal judge has taken a bold step, summoning the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to explain a potential violation of a court order regarding a detained migrant.
On January 14, 2026, Judge Patrick J. Schiltz granted a habeas petition for a detainee, Juan T.R., ordering ICE to hold a bond hearing within seven days or release him immediately. When no hearing occurred by January 23, Juan T.R.’s counsel notified the court, prompting a new order on January 26. This order demands Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons appear in court on Friday at 1:00 p.m. local time to address why he should not be held in contempt.
The issue has sparked intense debate over federal immigration enforcement practices and judicial oversight in Minnesota. Many see this as a clash between court authority and agency priorities during a tense period for ICE operations in the state.
Judge Schiltz didn’t mince words, declaring the court’s patience with ICE has run out after repeated failures to comply with orders. He noted that lesser measures to ensure compliance have failed, justifying the extraordinary step of ordering Lyons to appear personally.
“This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision for dealing with the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that were sure to result,” Schiltz wrote in his order, according to Fox News.
That’s a sharp critique, pointing to a systemic failure by federal authorities to balance enforcement with legal obligations—a misstep that risks undermining trust in the system.
Adding fuel to the fire, Schiltz could call off the Friday hearing if ICE releases Juan T.R. before the afternoon deadline. But until then, the pressure is on Lyons, alongside DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and other named respondents, to justify their actions.
The backdrop to this courtroom drama is a state reeling from recent violent encounters involving federal immigration enforcement. Two fatal shootings this month—on January 7, claiming the life of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, and a subsequent incident involving Border Patrol fatally shooting 37-year-old Minneapolis resident Alex Jeffrey Pretti—have intensified scrutiny on ICE and Border Patrol tactics.
The January 7 incident triggered widespread protests across Minnesota, with state leaders like Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey voicing concerns over federal actions. The tension is palpable, and it’s no surprise that judicial patience is wearing thin amid such public unrest.
Pretti’s death, during an operation targeting an unauthorized migrant with a criminal record, has drawn conflicting accounts. Homeland Security claims Pretti resisted violently while armed, but his family disputes this narrative, insisting he was unarmed and merely holding a phone.
“The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,” Pretti’s family stated to The Associated Press. Their anguish is clear, and it raises serious questions about transparency in these high-stakes operations.
“Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs,” they added. While their language is raw with grief, it underscores a growing distrust in official narratives—a sentiment many in Minnesota seem to share as these incidents pile up.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, meanwhile, fired back at Judge Schiltz, questioning his priorities. Her comments to Fox News Digital suggest a belief that the judiciary is overstepping into political territory, diverting ICE’s focus from serious threats.
McLaughlin’s critique highlights a broader frustration with judicial interventions that some argue hinder critical enforcement against dangerous individuals. Yet, the court’s stance is equally compelling—without adherence to legal rulings, what separates enforcement from overreach? It’s a tightrope walk, and neither side seems willing to budge.
Then there’s the question of Judge Schiltz’s own background, with Fox News noting his and his wife’s 2019 association with a group offering free legal aid to migrants. While not proof of bias, it’s the kind of detail that fuels skepticism about impartiality in politically charged cases like this.
Ultimately, Friday’s hearing could set a precedent for how far courts will go to hold federal agencies accountable. With Minnesota’s streets still simmering from recent tragedies, and ICE under a microscope, the outcome may ripple far beyond Juan T.R.’s case. It’s a moment to watch, as justice and enforcement collide head-on.
