Legalectric

At long last, after warning and warning and warning, and continued violations of law, 25 habeus corpus Petitioners who were unlawfully detained and released will have their day in court for enforcement of Judge’s Order to return their personal possessions after their release. They had until 11:00 a.m. on February 25, 2026, or face contempt proceedings, and, well, they did not comply.

Respondents in this consolidated case are Todd Lyons, in his capacity as Acting Director, Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Kristi Noem, Secretary, U.S.Department of Homeland Security; Pamela Bondi, U.S. Attorney General; Daren K. Margolin, Director for Executive Office for Immigration Review; David Easterwood, Field Office Director of St.Paul Field Office for U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement,Enforcement and Removal Operations; Eric Tollefson; Sheriff Joel Brott, Sheriff, Warden of Sherburne County Jail, Elk River MN; Warden, ERO Otero Detention Facility, Chapparal, New Mexico; John Doe, Local Detention Authority; Rose Thompson, Warden, Karnes County Immigration Processing Center.

Here’s the Court Order for hearing, it’s March 3rd at the at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 3B of the Warren E.Burger Federal Building and United States Courthouse, 316 N. Robert Street, St. Paul. This should be a live broadcast, even pay per view:

In another recent case, the extent of federal willful disregard is clear:

Attached to this order is an appendix that identifies 96 court orders that ICE has violated in 74 cases. The extent of ICE’s noncompliance is almost certainly substantially understated. This list is confined to orders issued since January 1, 2026, and the list was hurriedly compiled by extraordinarily busy judges. Undoubtedly, mistakes were made, and orders that should have appeared on this list were omitted.

This list should give pause to anyone—no matter his or her political beliefs—who cares about the rule of law. ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence. The Court warns ICE that future noncompliance with court orders may result in future show‐cause orders requiring the personal appearances of Lyons or other government officials. ICE is not a law unto itself. ICE has every right to challenge the orders of this Court, but, like any litigant, ICE must follow those orders unless and until they are overturned or vacated.

Here’s that Order — these are just two, there are many more: