In a significant ruling, a US federal judge has issued an order restricting the crowd control tactics that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents can use against “peaceful and unobstructive” protesters in Minneapolis. The decision comes ahead of planned weekend demonstrations against the agency’s widespread immigration actions in the city, following the recent fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent.
Judge Katherine Menendez’s 83-page order bars federal agents from arresting or using pepper spray and other non-lethal munitions against protesters who are engaging in peaceful and non-disruptive protest activity. The ruling also limits agents from stopping or detaining drivers and passengers in vehicles where there is no reasonable suspicion of forcible obstruction or interference with their work.
The Department of Homeland Security has stated that it is taking measures to protect its officers from rioters, while the White House has criticised the judge’s decision as embracing a “dishonest, left-wing narrative”. However, the ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by a group of protesters in December, who argued that the federal agents’ tactics were unconstitutional.
Minneapolis has been on edge since Good’s shooting on 7 January, with protests taking place across the city. There have been reported clashes between protesters and federal officers over the past week. In response, the Minnesota National Guard has been placed on standby to assist local law enforcement if needed.
Separately, the US Justice Department has announced an investigation into two of Minnesota’s leading Democrats – Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey – over alleged attempts to impede federal immigration operations. Both officials have condemned the ICE actions in the city, with Walz describing the investigation as an “authoritarian tactic” of “weaponizing the justice system against your opponents”.
The ruling and the ongoing tensions in Minneapolis highlight the continued debate over the role and tactics of federal immigration enforcement agencies, particularly in the context of protests against their activities.