Activist Biden Judge Threatens to Jail ICE Officials Over Immigration Crackdown

A federal judge appointed during the administration of former President Joe Biden signaled he may consider an extraordinary step—potentially ordering the imprisonment of federal officials from immigration and justice agencies—during a tense courtroom exchange tied to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.

According to reporting from Fox 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan convened an unusual contempt hearing in Minnesota involving officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the United States Department of Justice.

The hearing stems from allegations that federal officials failed to comply with court orders connected to Operation Metro Surge, a major enforcement effort launched under President Donald J. Trump as part of his administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration and immigration-related fraud.

During the hearing, Bryan indicated that he had “not ruled out the possibility of imprisonment” for officials tied to the case.

While acknowledging that such action would likely be an unlikely “extraordinary measure,” the judge stressed that every potential remedy remains under consideration. Bryan reportedly said imprisoning federal officials would represent a “historic low point” for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The dispute arises amid escalating friction between Minnesota’s federal judiciary and the federal government over immigration enforcement matters. Just last week, Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schlitz sharply criticized the U.S. Attorney’s Office over what he described as failures to comply with court directives.

“This Court will continue to do whatever is required to protect the rule of law, including, if necessary, moving to the use of criminal contempt. One way or another, ICE will comply with this Court’s orders,” Schlitz said.

Bryan summoned Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen along with several ICE officials to address claims that federal agents failed to follow multiple court orders requiring the return of personal property.

The disputed items—cash, cell phones, passports, and identification documents—belonged to 28 individuals who were allegedly “unlawfully detained” before later being released.

The courtroom exchange reportedly grew heated. Bryan himself acknowledged the strained tone of the proceedings, stating that he and Rosen had “been a little testy and frosty with each other,” according to reporting from The Associated Press.

In another moment highlighted by Fox 9 reporter Paul Blume, Bryan criticized ICE Deputy Field Office Director Tauria Rich for using the legal term “alien” to describe immigrants during testimony, remarking that the courtroom was discussing “people, not space aliens.”

At another point in the exchange, Rosen pushed back on the judge’s comments.

“Your honor has made a remark smearing myself,” Rosen said, according to AP.

Rosen told the court that the vast majority of the disputed cases have already been resolved. Of the 28 individuals who claimed their belongings were improperly retained, only five cases remain outstanding.

He added that the federal government has agreed to compensate individuals when property cannot be recovered, characterizing such incidents as administrative mistakes rather than deliberate misconduct.

Rosen insisted the government did not defy the court’s authority.

He said there “was no defiance, no disobedience” on the part of the government and that “the government believes contempt is far beyond anything that ought to be considered here today.”

Judge Bryan did not issue a ruling at the conclusion of Tuesday’s hearing and did not indicate when a final decision might be made.

The dispute comes as immigration enforcement dynamics in Minnesota appear to be shifting.

Last month, White House Border Czar Tom Homan announced that the Trump administration plans to reduce roughly 700 federal immigration agents previously deployed in the state. The move follows increased cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

Speaking during a press conference in Minneapolis, Homan said many county governments have begun honoring ICE detainers for illegal immigrants being held in local jails—allowing federal agents to assume custody before offenders are released into the community.

“We currently have an unprecedented number of counties communicating with us now and allowing ICE to take custody of illegal aliens before they hit the streets,” Homan said. “Unprecedented cooperation.

“Now say it again — this is efficient. It requires only one or two officers to assume custody of a criminal alien target rather than eight or ten officers going into the community and arresting that public safety threat,” he added.