As the violent anti-ICE protests continue in Minneapolis, a federal judge jumped in Friday night to severely curtail the agency's ability to keep the marauding hordes at bay and protect themselves from attack.
They are now prohibited from using crowd-controlling tools like pepper spray — which, if you’ve watched any of the videos coming out of the Twin Cities, you know has been a crucial method for keeping angry activists back — and are prohibited from arresting any “peaceful” demonstrators who are supposedly exercising their First Amendment rights. (I don’t see how saying what you believe is akin to aiming your car at law enforcement, but maybe that’s just me.)
It doesn’t take a law degree to immediately recognize that the definition of “peaceful” is in the eye of the beholder, and this word could become a point of contention and potential legal action in the future.
The 80-page ruling from a Biden-appointed U.S. District Judge came down Friday night, and did not seem to exhibit much sympathy for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or their efforts to get criminal illegal aliens out of the city:
Judge Kate M. Menendez ordered agents not to retaliate against people “engaging in peaceful and unobstructive protest activity,” or to use pepper spray or other “crowd dispersal tools” in retaliation for protected speech. The judge also said agents could not stop or detain protesters in vehicles who are not “forcibly obstructing or interfering with” agents.
The ruling, which granted a preliminary injunction, stems from a lawsuit brought by activists who said agents had violated their rights. The suit was filed before an immigration agent shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.
The decision follows the shooting death of agitator Renee Good by an ICE agent, though, as noted, the suit itself was filed prior to that shooting, not in response to it. (And let's not forget the non-fatal shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis, who teamed up with two other miscreants to beat an ICE agent with a broom and shovel. Were they just exercising their First Amendment rights? Should the agent have called a social worker instead of pulling out his gun while he was being smashed over the head?)
BREAKING: Judge enters TRO blocking feds from interfering with or arresting peaceful protesters in Minnesota. Judge Kate Menendez, Biden appointee. Order: https://t.co/FAvCOWRGGU pic.twitter.com/xAicwkrQoX
— Josh Gerstein (@joshgerstein) January 17, 2026
READ MORE: Update: Walz, Frey Now Being Investigated by DOJ Over Anti-ICE Actions - MN Gov Is Not Happy
Judge Menendez apparently does not seem to own a TV, because her reality is starkly different from what we’re seeing on our screens every night:
The judge found that the protesters observed and criticized ICE officers, but “did not forcibly obstruct or impede the agents’ work,” and were otherwise non-violent and non-threatening.
Translation:
— 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) January 17, 2026
Minnesota Biden Judge Katherine Menendez illegally orders ICE agents to transition into sitting ducks. https://t.co/K6NpIm8LO5 pic.twitter.com/kYmvXXEGQC
According to Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, the department has taken pains to respect the rights of protesters, but the reality is that some of them are quite simply “dangerous”:
“The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly — not rioting,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “DHS is taking appropriate and constitutional measures to uphold the rule of law and protect our officers and the public from dangerous rioters. We remind the public that rioting is dangerous — obstructing law enforcement is a federal crime and assaulting law enforcement is a felony.”
In history, there’s a good chance that this era will be known as “The Time of Trump.” However, it may also be remembered as “The Age of the Federal District Judge,” because not a day seems to go by without another temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction being thrown down by activist jurists, and while some of their decisions may stand up to the test of time, a whole lot of them reek of partisan gamesmanship.
Expect the Trump administration to appeal this before the ink is dry on the decision.
Editor’s Note: Democrat politicians and their radical supporters will do everything they can to interfere with and threaten ICE agents enforcing our immigration laws.
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