{"id":2555983,"date":"2026-01-28T19:27:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T00:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-cancels-ice-director-testimony-after-defendant-released\/"},"modified":"2026-01-28T19:30:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T00:30:42","slug":"judge-cancels-ice-director-testimony-after-defendant-released","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-cancels-ice-director-testimony-after-defendant-released\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge cancels ICE director testimony after defendant released"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/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%2Fjudge-cancels-ice-director-testimony-after-defendant-released%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=2555983&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 judge in Minnesota canceled the scheduled in-person testimony of acting ICE director Todd Lyons after Immigration and Customs Enforcement released detainee Juan Tobay Robles, whose case had prompted the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tennessee-introduces-bill-allowing-fathers-to-prevent-an-abortion\/\" title=\"Tennessee Introduces Bill Allowing Fathers To Prevent An Abortion\">court order requiring<\/a> either a bond hearing or release. Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schlitz \u2014 who had ordered Lyons to explain why ICE should not be held in contempt \u2014 sharply rebuked the agency for a pattern of failing to follow court orders, citing 96 violations across 74 cases and saying the noncompliance imposes notable hardship on detainees and strains the courts.<\/p>\n<p>Schlitz emphasized that ICE \u201cis not a law unto itself\u201d and must obey judicial orders unless they are overturned, reflecting broader judicial frustration about the agency\u2019s lax adherence to procedural protections like timely bond hearings and release directives. The agency\u2019s release of Robles came amid protests in Minnesota over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/schiff-says-hes-not-giving-ice-or-border-patrol-another-dime\/\" title=\"Schiff says he&#039;s not giving ... or Border Patrol &#039;another dime&#039;\">recent fatal shootings<\/a> by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-to-nominate-texas-sheriff-to-lead-ice\/\" title=\"Biden to Nominate Texas Sheriff to Lead ...\">federal immigration officers<\/a>, a backdrop that has heightened scrutiny of ICE\u2019s practices.  <\/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\">Judge cancels ICE director testimony but rips agency&rsquo;s habitual violation of court orders&nbsp;<\/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_2487213\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A federal judge in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Minnesota\/\">Minnesota<\/a> on Wednesday <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.mnd.230171\/gov.uscourts.mnd.230171.10.0_1.pdf\">canceled<\/a> testimony scheduled from acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4421285\/noem-taps-14-year-ice-attorney-to-serve-as-agencys-new-deputy-director\/\">Todd Lyons<\/a>, but not without sharply rebuking the agency for what he described as a pattern of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-law-enforcement-officers-speak-about-border-crisis\/\" title=\"Texas law enforcement off...rs speak about border crisis\">ignoring court orders<\/a> in immigration cases.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schlitz, a George W. Bush appointee, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4435029\/acting-ice-director-todd-lyons-ordered-testify-judge-question-handling-detainee\/\">had ordered <\/a>Lyons to appear Friday in his Minneapolis courtroom to explain why <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ICE\/\">ICE<\/a> should not be held in contempt of court over its handling of detained migrants and repeated failures to comply with judicial directives.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4435531\/doj-seeks-pause-law-firm-executive-order-cases-pending-decision-mark-zaid-appeal\/\">DOJ seeks pause in <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >law firm executive order cases<\/a>, pending decision in Mark Zaid appeal<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4437558\/fbi-executes-search-warrant-at-fulton-county-election-facility\/\">FBI executes search warrant at Fulton County election facility<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4435981\/virginia-judge-halts-democrats-efforts-for-redistricting-referendum-in-april\/\">Virginia judge halts Democrats&#8217; efforts for redistricting referendum in April<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The hearing was part of a case involving <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/docket\/72120823\/tobay-robles-v-noem\/\">Juan Tobay Robles<\/a>, who had been kept in custody despite a court order requiring either a bond hearing or his release.<\/p>\n<p>But late Tuesday, ICE released Tobay Robles, averting Lyons&rsquo;s required appearance and prompting the judge to cancel the in-person testimony.<\/p>\n<p>In his initial order, Schlitz did not mince words about ICE&rsquo;s conduct and said the agency&rsquo;s reported noncompliance had caused &ldquo;significant hardship&rdquo; for immigrants in federal custody and strained the court system.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He pointed to what he described as &ldquo;dozens&rdquo; of court orders that ICE had failed to follow, including deadlines for holding bond hearings and other due-process requirements.<\/p>\n<p>Schlitz included 96 court orders that ICE had violated in 74 cases and said the list should sound alarms for anyone &ldquo;who cares about the rule of law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;ICE is not a law unto itself,&rdquo; Schlitz said. &ldquo;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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Schlitz&rsquo;s critique reflects mounting frustration in the federal judiciary over what some judges describe as lax compliance by ICE with basic procedural protections, particularly the timely provision of bond hearings and adherence to orders to release individuals unlawfully detained.<\/p>\n<p>ICE&rsquo;s decision to release Tobay Robles follows an eruption of protests in Minnesota calling to abolish ICE and remove its operations from Minnesota streets.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The protests stem from the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers this month.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4438106\/rubio-explains-us-oversight-venezuelan-oil-sales\/\"><strong>RUBIO EXPLAINS US OVERSIGHT OF VENEZUELAN OIL SALES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Minnesota leadership has had an on-again, off-again path forward with President Donald Trump and his administration.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Trump and border czar Tom Homan had &ldquo;productive&rdquo; phone calls and meetings with Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.<\/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>Judge nixes ICE chief testimony, condemns noncompliance<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2555984,"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\/AP26027494022944.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[72150,50896,49347,32691,72149],"class_list":["post-2555983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-defendant-released","tag-ice-director","tag-immigration-enforcement","tag-judge-ruling","tag-testimony-canceled"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26027494022944.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2555983","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\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2555983"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2555983\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2555987,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2555983\/revisions\/2555987"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2555984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2555983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2555983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2555983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}