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Wednesday, Jan 28, 2026
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U.S. Federal Judge Orders Acting ICE Director to Appear in Court, Warns of Contempt
Judge Patrick Schiltz summons the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement amid repeated noncompliance with court orders in Minnesota
A federal judge in Minnesota has ordered the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to appear in person before his court on Friday and explain why he should not be held in contempt for failing to comply with multiple judicial mandates.
Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz issued the extraordinary directive, citing what he described as repeated violations of court orders by ICE in immigration enforcement cases linked to the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge.
The order specifically requires Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to ‘‘show cause’’ why he should not face contempt proceedings after the agency did not grant a bond hearing or release a detainee identified as Juan T.R. within the seven-day timeframe mandated by a January 14 order.
Documents filed in the case indicated that as of January 23 the petitioner remained in custody without having received the hearing or release ordered by the court.
Schiltz wrote that issuing such a summons for a federal agency head was ‘‘extraordinary’’ but justified by what he described as ‘‘extraordinary’’ noncompliance with court directives.
Judge Schiltz observed that ICE’s repeated failure to grant timely bond hearings and other ordered relief had created ‘‘significant hardship’’ for detained immigrants and overwhelmed the federal courts in Minneapolis.
The march of legal challenges accelerated following a surge of federal enforcement actions in the region, which have prompted numerous habeas corpus petitions and complaints over prolonged detention and transfers of detainees out of state.
The court’s order states that if the petitioner is released from custody before Friday, Lyons will not be required to appear in person.
The judge’s move signals heightened judicial scrutiny of ICE’s adherence to due process requirements and court oversight in immigration cases.
Schiltz noted that the court had been ‘‘extremely patient’’ with the government’s assurances of compliance, but that earlier measures had not succeeded in securing timely responses to court orders.
The order to appear comes amid broader debates over immigration enforcement tactics and the balance between executive actions and judicial oversight.
Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz issued the extraordinary directive, citing what he described as repeated violations of court orders by ICE in immigration enforcement cases linked to the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge.
The order specifically requires Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to ‘‘show cause’’ why he should not face contempt proceedings after the agency did not grant a bond hearing or release a detainee identified as Juan T.R. within the seven-day timeframe mandated by a January 14 order.
Documents filed in the case indicated that as of January 23 the petitioner remained in custody without having received the hearing or release ordered by the court.
Schiltz wrote that issuing such a summons for a federal agency head was ‘‘extraordinary’’ but justified by what he described as ‘‘extraordinary’’ noncompliance with court directives.
Judge Schiltz observed that ICE’s repeated failure to grant timely bond hearings and other ordered relief had created ‘‘significant hardship’’ for detained immigrants and overwhelmed the federal courts in Minneapolis.
The march of legal challenges accelerated following a surge of federal enforcement actions in the region, which have prompted numerous habeas corpus petitions and complaints over prolonged detention and transfers of detainees out of state.
The court’s order states that if the petitioner is released from custody before Friday, Lyons will not be required to appear in person.
The judge’s move signals heightened judicial scrutiny of ICE’s adherence to due process requirements and court oversight in immigration cases.
Schiltz noted that the court had been ‘‘extremely patient’’ with the government’s assurances of compliance, but that earlier measures had not succeeded in securing timely responses to court orders.
The order to appear comes amid broader debates over immigration enforcement tactics and the balance between executive actions and judicial oversight.
