The judge accused the agency of repeatedly ignoring federal court mandates tied to the Trump administration’s immigration actions in Minnesota, calling the conduct an unprecedented pattern of defiance. In the order, Schiltz cited nearly 100 instances over the past month in which ICE allegedly violated court directives involving detainees held in the Twin Cities area under Operation Metro Surge. Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz, the top federal judge in Minneapolis, rips into ICE:"ICE is not a law unto itself." "ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence. Additional litigation is continuing in federal court.