Federal Judge Says ICE Used Race-Based Stops — But Refuses to Halt Minnesota Ops
A federal judge says immigration agents in Minnesota likely used unconstitutional tactics but he stopped short of shutting the operation down.
In a ruling tied to a civil rights lawsuit, U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud found that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers likely relied on race-based stops and warrantless arrests during enforcement operations in the state.
The lawsuit was brought by the ACLU and several people detained during recent federal immigration actions. Plaintiffs testified they were targeted because of their race, ethnicity, or use of a foreign language, arguing that agents conducted suspicion-less stops that violated constitutional protections.
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According to FOX 9 reporting and court filings, the judge wrote that evidence showed federal agents adopted policies allowing investigatory stops based on ethnicity or race without reasonable suspicion.
But the court declined to block ICE from continuing enforcement in Minnesota. Tostrud ruled the plaintiffs failed to prove that future violations were likely enough to justify an emergency injunction.
The decision comes amid escalating legal fights over federal immigration crackdowns in Minnesota, where large enforcement deployments and arrests have triggered protests, lawsuits, and scrutiny from courts.
The broader case is still moving forward in federal court.
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