Minnesota Judge Warns ICE Order Violations Threaten Rule of Law

A federal judge in Minnesota has publicly cautioned that repeated violations of court orders by Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations risk undermining constitutional protections. Judge Patrick J. Schiltz, appointed by President George W. Bush and a former clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia, described the situation in an interview with the New York Times as creating a grave threat to the rule of law after nearly 100 orders were disregarded, some requiring the release of individuals in custody. He attributed many lapses to staffing shortages and incompetence rather than deliberate policy, while noting that the Justice Department had not addressed their cumulative impact. The judge also referenced two deaths of American citizens at the hands of federal agents as heightening his concerns. A Justice Department spokesperson called the interview itself remarkable. No data on the total volume of orders issued or comparisons to prior administrations were provided in available coverage.