Federal Judge Bars Immigration Agents from Retaliating Against Protesters in Minnesota, Opens Probe into Mayor and Governor's Roles
A federal judge has temporarily barred immigration agents from retaliating against people engaging in lawful and peaceful protest in Minneapolis under the Department of Homeland Security's Operation Metro Surge. The ruling, made by U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez, applies to all persons who do or will in the future record, observe, and/or protest Operation Metro Surge and related operations.
According to the judge's order, federal agents are prohibited from arresting or detaining peaceful protesters "in retaliation for their protected conduct and absent a showing of probable cause or reasonable suspicion that the person has committed a crime or is obstructing or interfering with the activities." The ruling also bars Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from stopping drivers and passengers unless there's reasonable suspicion that they're obstructing federal enforcement activities.
The judge wrote that "the act of safely following Covered Federal Agents at an appropriate distance does not, by itself, create reasonable suspicion to justify a vehicle stop." The ACLU filed the lawsuit in December on behalf of plaintiffs who alleged that they were arrested for lawfully protesting or documenting DHS activity.
Federal officials disputed much of the lawsuit's claims, saying that crowds often became large, hostile and dangerous, with people throwing snowballs, ice, and other objects, blocking vehicles, and surrounding officers. They claimed that pepper spray and other force was used only after repeated warnings and when agents could not move their vehicles safely.
The ruling is a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding Operation Metro Surge, which has been criticized for its handling of immigration enforcement activities. The order will be shared with all agents in the area over the next 72 hours.
As part of the probe into mayor and governor's roles, the investigation may examine whether local officials exceeded their authority by deploying federal agents to enforce state immigration laws without proper oversight or approval.
A federal judge has temporarily barred immigration agents from retaliating against people engaging in lawful and peaceful protest in Minneapolis under the Department of Homeland Security's Operation Metro Surge. The ruling, made by U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez, applies to all persons who do or will in the future record, observe, and/or protest Operation Metro Surge and related operations.
According to the judge's order, federal agents are prohibited from arresting or detaining peaceful protesters "in retaliation for their protected conduct and absent a showing of probable cause or reasonable suspicion that the person has committed a crime or is obstructing or interfering with the activities." The ruling also bars Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from stopping drivers and passengers unless there's reasonable suspicion that they're obstructing federal enforcement activities.
The judge wrote that "the act of safely following Covered Federal Agents at an appropriate distance does not, by itself, create reasonable suspicion to justify a vehicle stop." The ACLU filed the lawsuit in December on behalf of plaintiffs who alleged that they were arrested for lawfully protesting or documenting DHS activity.
Federal officials disputed much of the lawsuit's claims, saying that crowds often became large, hostile and dangerous, with people throwing snowballs, ice, and other objects, blocking vehicles, and surrounding officers. They claimed that pepper spray and other force was used only after repeated warnings and when agents could not move their vehicles safely.
The ruling is a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding Operation Metro Surge, which has been criticized for its handling of immigration enforcement activities. The order will be shared with all agents in the area over the next 72 hours.
As part of the probe into mayor and governor's roles, the investigation may examine whether local officials exceeded their authority by deploying federal agents to enforce state immigration laws without proper oversight or approval.
. I was at one of these protests in Minneapolis last month and it felt like they were just trying to intimidate us, you know? The fact that the judge is telling them they can't retaliate against people who are just exercising their right to free speech is a huge win for peaceful protesters everywhere 
. And now, with this probe into mayor and governor's roles, maybe we'll see some accountability from local officials too 
. But what's crazy is how the feds were trying to spin it as if the protesters were the ones who were being violent 
. Like, no one was throwing snowballs or anything... just a bunch of people standing up for what they believe in 
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I'm thinking... 
. It's essential that our government protects the rights of peaceful protesters and doesn't retaliate against them. This sets a great precedent for future protests and shows that our leaders are committed to defending freedom of speech 
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. We need to ensure that local officials follow the proper procedures when deploying federal agents, and this probe might help with that 
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. It's a reminder that our system is designed to protect individual rights, even in the face of controversy 
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this is gonna be a long year... just when you thought things couldn't get worse, our 'law enforcement' gets out of hand... I mean what's next? They're literally telling us how to protest now 
can't even walk down the street without being harassed by ICE agents. And don't even get me started on those governors and mayors who are supposed to be in charge... did they not learn from their past mistakes? Still, at least someone's speaking out against this BS 
just read this news and i'm so glad a judge stepped in to protect ppl from being retaliated against while protesting! 
anyway, this ruling is a big deal, especially with the probe into mayor & governor's roles... it raises questions about who has the power and control over these kinds of situations. 
. a federal judge finally steps in and says "hey, you can't harass peaceful protesters" 
now if only they'd do the same for all the people getting harassed by cops or landlords who are trying to evict them from their homes... 
at least this ruling is a start, but I'm not holding my breath that it'll lead to real change 
. and can we talk about how ridiculous it is that some people think protesting is "hostile" just because they're throwing snowballs at you? 
! It's a huge win for peaceful protesters and people exercising their rights to free speech and assembly. I mean, who wants to be stopped or arrested just for showing up to a rally? Not me, that's for sure 
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It's just not right, especially when there are so many more pressing issues we should be focusing on.
. And now, with this probe into mayor and governor's roles, we might finally see some accountability for how Operation Metro Surge was handled 
. and now we gotta wait 72 hours to see if any other shenanigans go down? yeah right... 
. I mean, can you believe those ICE agents were basically harassing protesters with no reason? It's crazy! In my day, we could protest and document police brutality without getting arrested. What's next? 
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Like, no way would they've let that happen! But, at the same time, it is kinda wild how some people are trying to spin this as if protesters were being all aggressive and hostile... Newsflash: peaceful protests shouldn't be a crime, right?! 
This ruling is super interesting cuz it highlights how far law enforcement can go in targeting peaceful protesters. It's like, we gotta ask ourselves, what does 'lawful protest' even mean? 
. If you're planning on attending a protest or speaking out against injustice, make sure you're taking care of your physical and emotional well-being - eat nourishing food, stay hydrated, and prioritize rest when you need it 
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. Let's keep pushing forward for a more just and equitable society! 
I mean, who wants government agents messing with peaceful protesters? That's just crazy talk! But at the same time, I think it's kinda weird that people are protesting in the first place... I mean, can't they just chill and let the authorities do their job? 
... can't even safely protest without being harassed by ICE agents 
. Like, who needs probable cause when you're just exercising your right to free speech? 
Total overreach if you ask me 
... wish there was more accountability for these sorts of abuses 
. That's gonna be interesting to watch 
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