A federal district judge in Minnesota issued a preliminary injunction restricting certain tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents against protesters in Minneapolis, stating that the actions violated their First amendment protections.
In her ruling on January, 16, 2026 U.S district judge Katherine Menendez said federal officers engaged in conduct that included drawing and pointing weapons, deploying pepper spray and other non lethal munitions, threatening or carrying out arrests and detentions of protestors and observers.
She determined that these actions had a chilling effect on individuals exercising their constitutional right to protest.
The injunction, which will remain in effect while litigation continues, prohibits federal officers from retaliating against peaceful protest activity, arresting or detaining individuals participating in lawful demonstration, using non lethal munitions or stopping and detaining drivers or passengers without adequate legal cause.
The Court also stated Operation Metro Surge a department of Homeland security operation that deployed thousands of Border patrol and ICE agents to Minneapolis does not by itself provide justification for retaliation, arrest or enforcement action.
