ICE Dodges Courtroom Showdown, But Federal Judge Isn't Backing Down - Above the Law

"As previously reported, the George W. Bush-appointed judge has been increasingly exasperated with the Trump administration's approach to immigration enforcement in Minnesota, in particular ICE's apparent allergy to complying with court orders. In a prior order, Schiltz took the extraordinary step of ordering Todd Lyons, ICE's acting director, to personally appear in court to explain why the agency should not be held in contempt."

"Yesterday, Schiltz issued an order - a biting one at that - that the release of one individual after the threat of sanctions "does not end the Court's concerns." And went on to list some 96! other immigration cases where the government is ignoring court orders. "ICE is not a law unto itself. ICE has every right to challenge the orders of thisCourt, but, like any litigant, ICE must follow those orders unless and until they are overturned or vacated," Schiltz wrote."

""This list should give pause to anyone - no matter his or her political beliefs - who cares about the rule of law," he explained. Then came the bleakest assessment of what is happening in the Minnesota federal courts, "ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence." Things are pretty dire in Minnesota, and Judge Schiltz is ringing the rule of law warning bell."

Federal Judge Patrick Schiltz demanded accountability from Immigration and Customs Enforcement for apparent refusals to comply with Minnesota court orders. A threatened contempt hearing for acting ICE director Todd Lyons was canceled after the government released a detained individual, but the court emphasized that one compliance does not erase a broader pattern. Schiltz catalogued roughly 96 other immigration cases where court orders were ignored and warned that ICE must follow orders unless overturned. The judge characterized the situation as alarming for the rule of law and suggested that ICE's violations in January 2026 may exceed those of some federal agencies over their entire existence.

Read at Above the Law