Federal Judge Slams ICE for Violating Nearly 100 Court Orders: 'ICE is Not a Law Unto Itself' |
Trump Administration
C.J. Ciaramella | 1.29.2026 4:40 PM
An escalating conflict between the federal judiciary and the Trump administration led a frustrated judge in Minnesota to release a list Wednesday of nearly 100 court orders he says Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) violated over the last month.
"ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence," Patrick J. Schiltz, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for Minnesota, wrote in a court order Wednesday.
Schiltz found that ICE had violated a previous order to immediately release a man being held in an immigration detention center and schedule a bond hearing for him. It wasn't the first time it had happened. Schiltz attached an appendix to his order of 96 court orders that ICE had violated in 74 different cases in the district. The list, Schiltz wrote, was almost certainly an undercount and "should give pause to anyone—no matter his or her political beliefs—who cares about the rule of law."
"ICE is not a law unto itself," Schiltz continued. "ICE has every right to challenge the orders of this Court, but, like any litigant, ICE must follow those orders unless and until they are overturned or vacated."
Earlier this week, Schiltz ordered the acting chief of ICE, Todd Lyons, to testify at a contempt hearing regarding the violations of his orders, but ultimately canceled the hearing and released the appendix instead.
It's highly unusual for federal judges to issue such direct accusations and contempt threats against the government. However, an increasing number of judges have become exasperated by the........