MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge in Minnesota has delivered a significant ruling regarding the rights of peaceful protesters in relation to immigration enforcement operations. U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez determined that officers participating in one of the largest immigration enforcement initiatives in the area cannot detain nor utilize tear gas on demonstrators peacefully expressing their views. This decision follows a December lawsuit filed on behalf of six activists by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, which alleged that government forces were infringing upon the constitutional rights of residents in the Twin Cities amid intensified enforcement efforts. Government attorneys defending the officers claimed they were acting within legal authority to enforce immigration laws and ensure their safety. As the Trump administration's immigration policies continue to unfold, thousands of observers have been engaged in monitoring the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region since early December.
Judge Rules Against Detaining Peaceful Protesters in Minneapolis Immigration Operations
A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that federal officers in Minneapolis cannot detain or use tear gas on peaceful protesters during immigration enforcement activities, clarifying the legal boundaries of their actions.
In a pivotal ruling, U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez stated that federal immigration officers in the Minneapolis area cannot detain or employ tear gas against peaceful protesters. The decision stems from a lawsuit filed by six activists, supported by the ACLU of Minnesota, claiming violations of constitutional rights amidst heightened immigration enforcement operations. The ruling comes as thousands have gathered to observe the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol since December.
