Judge Restricts ICE Tactics Amid Minneapolis Protests

On 17 January 2026, U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez in Minnesota issued an injunction preventing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from using tear gas or making arrests against non‑violent protesters in Minneapolis. The ruling followed a lawsuit filed on 17 December by six demonstrators who claimed their First‑Amendment and due‑process rights were violated during the Trump‑era crackdown, which saw thousands of federal officers deployed and more than 2,500 arrests in the Twin Cities. The order comes after a series of violent incidents, including the fatal shooting of 37‑year‑old Renee Nicole Good on 7 January and a subsequent officer’s gunshot to a protester’s leg. The Justice Department is probing comments by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for alleged interference with federal enforcement.