Sunday, January 18, 2026- A federal judge in Minnesota has issued a binding order restricting how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agents may engage with protesters and observers amid ongoing unrest in Minneapolis.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez ruled that federal agents may not arrest, detain, or use crowd-control measures such as pepper spray, tear gas, or other non-lethal force against individuals engaged in peaceful, non-obstructive protest or lawful observation of immigration enforcement activities. The order also limits traffic stops, allowing agents to stop drivers or passengers only when there is reasonable suspicion of criminal activity or direct interference with law enforcement duties.
The ruling follows the fatal shooting of Renée Nicole Good by an ICE agent earlier this month, an incident that ignited widespread protests and intensified tensions between local communities and federal authorities.
The decision stems from a civil rights lawsuit arguing that federal crowd-control tactics violated constitutional protections, particularly the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. The court emphasized that public safety measures must remain consistent with constitutional limits, even during heightened enforcement operations.
The injunction applies to the Minneapolis–St. Paul area and will remain in effect pending further court action. Civil rights advocates and state leaders have welcomed the ruling as a necessary check on federal power, while federal officials continue to defend their agents’ conduct in volatile situations. As protests persist and scrutiny grows, the decision represents a significant judicial intervention shaping how immigration enforcement interacts with civil liberties on the ground.
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