ICE Violated 96+ Court Orders in One Month in Minnesota
A federal judge found ICE violated at least 96 court orders in 74 cases in a single month — "more court orders this month than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence." A Trump attorney was held in civil contempt.
Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz found that ICE violated at least 96 court orders in 74 immigration cases in Minnesota in January 2026 alone. He wrote that ICE "has likely violated more court orders this month than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence."
Subsequent reviews revealed the scale was even worse: 97 orders in 66 cases, plus 113 orders in 77 more cases. The violations involved ignoring court-ordered stays of deportation, proceeding with removals despite judicial holds, and failing to comply with bond conditions.
The judicial response escalated rapidly:
- A Minnesota federal judge held a Trump administration attorney in civil contempt — the first such sanction of the second term
- Federal judges issued at least 35 orders requiring the administration to explain why it should not be held in contempt
- Judges in Minnesota and New Jersey threatened criminal contempt
- Judge James Boasberg launched the first criminal contempt inquiry over ignored deportation orders
The systematic defiance of court orders by a federal law enforcement agency represented a breakdown of the constitutional order — the executive branch openly refusing to comply with the judiciary.