A U.S. District Judge appointed by President Joe Biden has issued an order restricting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from detaining or using force against peaceful protesters in Minneapolis, as riots intensify around agency operations. The ruling requires officers to demonstrate probable cause before acting. Department of Homeland Security officials have emphasized that rioting remains unprotected under the First Amendment.
In Minneapolis, ongoing ICE operations have sparked escalating riots, prompting intervention from the federal courts. On Friday night, U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez, appointed by former President Joe Biden, issued an order that bars ICE agents from detaining individuals or deploying tear gas and other measures against peaceful protesters who are not obstructing law enforcement activities. The judge specified that officers must establish probable cause or reasonable suspicion of criminal activity or obstruction before taking action. She also clarified that merely following officers at an appropriate distance does not justify intervention.
The decision comes amid heightened tensions in the city, where anti-ICE activists have been aggressively monitoring and harassing federal personnel. Fox News correspondent Alexis McAdams described the scene as more akin to a coordinated operation than spontaneous protests. "This isn’t a protest — it’s an operation. Anti-ICE activists in Minneapolis rapidly track, doxx, and harass anyone they believe is tied to ICE," McAdams reported on January 16, 2026. She noted that activists photograph individuals and vehicles, uploading details to a database to facilitate further interference.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin responded sharply to the judicial order, asserting that DHS would continue to enforce the law while protecting officers and the public. "Rioting is not protected by the First Amendment," she stated. McLaughlin highlighted dangers faced by agents, including assaults, fireworks launched at them, slashed tires, vandalism of federal property, and vehicles used as weapons. "We remind the public that rioting is dangerous—obstructing law enforcement is a federal crime and assaulting law enforcement is a felony," she added. Despite these threats, she said officers have adhered to training, applying only the minimum necessary force.
Earlier this month, the situation turned deadly when an ICE agent fatally shot protester Renee Good after she struck him with her vehicle during an operation. DHS reported the agent suffered internal bleeding but acted in self-defense, potentially preventing harm to others.
