{"id":2553243,"date":"2026-01-26T21:00:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T02:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-indefinitely-halts-judges-limits-on-ice-tactics-in-minnesota\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T21:05:04","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T02:05:04","slug":"appeals-court-indefinitely-halts-judges-limits-on-ice-tactics-in-minnesota","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-indefinitely-halts-judges-limits-on-ice-tactics-in-minnesota\/","title":{"rendered":"Appeals court indefinitely halts judge\u2019s limits on ICE tactics in Minnesota"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fappeals-court-indefinitely-halts-judges-limits-on-ice-tactics-in-minnesota%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2553243&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A federal appeals court has indefinitely stayed a Jan. 16 order by U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez that limited how federal agents \u2014 including ICE \u2014 may respond to protests in Minnesota, keeping the restrictions on hold while the government\u2019s appeal proceeds. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court said the injunction was likely to be overturned as it was overly broad, impermissibly vague, and functionally a global injunction extending relief to an uncertified class of protesters and observers. Menendez\u2019s order had barred officers from arresting,detaining,pepper-spraying,or retaliating against people engaged in what she described as peaceful,unobstructive protest activity and restricted vehicle stops without reasonable suspicion. The appeals court warned such vague commands would leave agents unsure how to act in fast-moving situations and expose them to contempt. The decision follows widespread protests after two fatal shootings involving federal agents and comes amid Operation Metro Surge and increased federal deployments; Minnesota has also asked a court to halt the broader federal presence, a matter menendez is still considering. The Justice Department and Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the stay,and the appeals panel said pausing the injunction serves the public interest by preventing hesitation by federal officers carrying out lawful duties.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Appeals court indefinitely halts judge&rsquo;s limits on ICE tactics in Minnesota<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2484903\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A federal appeals court on Monday blocked a lower-court judge&rsquo;s restrictions on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ice\/\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a> tactics in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota\/\">Minnesota<\/a>, handing the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\">Trump administration<\/a> a significant win as protests and legal challenges continue to surround federal immigration operations in the Twin Cities.<\/p>\n<p>The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.ca8.113629\/gov.uscourts.ca8.113629.00805440069.3.pdf\">issued an indefinite stay<\/a> of a Jan. 16 order by U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez that sharply limited how federal officers could respond to protests tied to ICE activity in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minneapolis\">Minneapolis<\/a>. The stay will remain in effect while the government&rsquo;s appeal proceeds.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4434461\/doj-ask-supreme-court-consider-trump-appointed-us-attorneys\/\">DOJ could soon ask Supreme Court to consider legal battle over Trump-appointed US attorneys<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4433835\/obama-appointed-judge-blocks-trump-end-legal-status-thousands-migrants\/\">Obama-appointed judge again blocks Trump from ending legal status for thousands of migrants<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4434172\/agents-involved-alex-pretti-killing-body-cameras\/\">Agents involved in Pretti killing were wearing body cameras: DHS<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">WIN AGAINST JUDICIAL ACTIVISM IN MINNESOTA <\/p>\n<p>Our great <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheJusticeDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TheJusticeDept<\/a> attorneys have now obtained a FULL STAY in this crucial case. <\/p>\n<p>Liberal judges tried to handcuff our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hypocrisy-trump-team-shows-videos-of-democrat-lawmakers-during-impeachment-trial\/\" title=\"\u2018Hypocrisy:\u2019 Trump Team Shows Videos of Democrat ...makers During Impeachment Trial\">federal law enforcement officers<\/a>, restrict their actions, and put their safety at risk when responding to&hellip; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/j1kvm7gQGR\">https:\/\/t.co\/j1kvm7gQGR<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AGPamBondi\/status\/2015932965528764622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 26, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>Attorney General Pam Bondi lauded the decision, saying lower court judges like Menendez &ldquo;tried to handcuff our federal law enforcement officers, restrict their actions, and put their safety at risk when responding to violent agitators.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The DOJ went to court. We got a temporary stay. NOW, the 8th Circuit has fully agreed that this reckless attempt to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/reps-axne-and-spanberger-took-cash-from-aocs-pro-defund-the-police-pac\/\" title=\"Reps. Axne and Spanberger Took Cash from AOC\u2019s Pro-Defund the Police PAC\">undermine law enforcement<\/a> cannot stand,&rdquo; Bondi said.<\/p>\n<p>That order by Menendez, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, had barred federal officers from arresting, detaining, pepper-spraying, or retaliating against individuals engaged in what she described as peaceful and unobstructive protest activity. It also restricted officers from stopping vehicles unless they had reasonable suspicion that occupants were forcibly interfering with immigration enforcement. The appeals court <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4428125\/appeals-court-pauses-restrictions-ice-tactics-minnesota\/\">previously intervened<\/a> on Wednesday without issuing a written decision.<\/p>\n<p>In a brief per curiam decision Monday afternoon, the appeals court said the government made a &ldquo;strong showing&rdquo; that the injunction is unlikely to survive appellate review. The panel concluded the order was both overly broad and impermissibly vague, raising constitutional and practical concerns.<\/p>\n<p>The court said the injunction effectively amounted to a universal injunction by extending relief to a sweeping, uncertified class of protesters and observers. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3455997\/supreme-court-nationwide-injunctions-trump-birthright-citizenship-case\/\">Citing recent Supreme Court precedent<\/a>, the panel said federal courts lack authority to impose such broad restrictions on executive branch operations.<\/p>\n<p>The judges also faulted the order for failing to clearly define the scope of conduct agents would be prohibited from engaging in, concluding it largely directed federal officers to &ldquo;obey the law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Even the provision that singles out the use of &lsquo;pepper-spray or similar nonlethal munitions and crowd dispersal tools&rsquo; requires federal agents to predict what the district court would consider &lsquo;peaceful and unobstructive protest activity,&#8217;&rdquo; the majority wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Such vague commands, the court said, leave agents guessing how to respond during fast-moving protest situations and expose them to possible contempt sanctions.<\/p>\n<p>The ruling comes amid sustained protests in Minneapolis following two fatal encounters involving federal agents. An ICE officer shot and killed Renee Good on Jan. 7, and a Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen, on Saturday during separate enforcement operations, according to authorities. Both incidents fueled demonstrations and intensified scrutiny of Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale federal immigration enforcement effort in the Twin Cities.<\/p>\n<p>President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> has escalated the federal response, placing roughly 1,500 U.S. troops on standby to assist federal agents and warning that he could invoke the Insurrection Act if unrest continues. However, he indicated a strategy shift in communication with the state&rsquo;s recalcitrant leadership on Monday, suggesting he and Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) spoke and were on a &ldquo;similar wavelength&rdquo; with one another.<\/p>\n<p>The underlying lawsuit, filed in December, alleges that federal officers violated the First and Fourth Amendment rights of six protesters. Plaintiffs claim agents boxed in a civilian&rsquo;s car and pointed a rifle inside during enforcement operations. They sought classwide relief on behalf of anyone who observes, records, or protests ICE activity in Minnesota.<\/p>\n<p>Menendez said <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4422810\/judge-limits-ice-crowd-control-tactics-against-protesters-minnesota\/\">in her Jan. 16 order<\/a> that protesters showed an &ldquo;ongoing, persistent pattern&rdquo; of intimidating conduct by ICE officers. She <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >cited extensive media coverage<\/a> of aggressive federal responses to protests across the Twin Cities.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4433341\/federal-judge-skeptical-of-minnesota-plea-court-end-sweeping-dhs-operation\/\">FEDERAL JUDGE SKEPTICAL OF MINNESOTA&rsquo;S PLEA FOR COURT TO END SWEEPING DHS OPERATION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Although her injunction is now on pause, Menendez is still weighing a separate request from Minnesota officials to halt the broader deployment of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-to-nominate-texas-sheriff-to-lead-ice\/\" title=\"Biden to Nominate Texas Sheriff to Lead ICE\">federal immigration officers<\/a> in the state. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4433341\/federal-judge-skeptical-of-minnesota-plea-court-end-sweeping-dhs-operation\/\">At a hearing Monday<\/a>, she said she was wrestling with the scope of the request but acknowledged that federal officials have &ldquo;a lot of power&rdquo; to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/newsom-recall-petition-close-to-success\/\" title=\"Newsom Recall Petition Close To Success\">enforce immigration laws<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Minnesota argues the surge unconstitutionally interferes with the state&rsquo;s authority and threatens public safety. The appeals court, however, said staying the injunction serves the public interest by preventing federal agents from hesitating while carrying out lawful duties.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Appeals court blocks limits on ICE in Minnesota<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2553244,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26013709149605.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[32324,8364,49347,43169,5698],"class_list":["post-2553243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-appeals-court","tag-ice","tag-immigration-enforcement","tag-judicial-ruling","tag-minnesota"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26013709149605.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2553243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2553243"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2553243\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2553247,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2553243\/revisions\/2553247"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2553244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2553243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2553243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2553243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}