Minnesota judge bars federal officers from tear gas on peaceful protesters

A Minnesota decide issued a ruling Friday banning federal brokers from holding or deploying tear gasoline towards peaceable protesters who don’t hinder authorities as they take part in Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.

U.S. District Choose Kate Menendez’s order limiting the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and federal brokers comes amid ongoing protests and heightened tensions in Minneapolis after an ICE agent fatally shot Minnesota resident Renee Good earlier this month.

The ruling prohibits brokers from retaliating towards anybody who peacefully protests or observes the actions of immigration officers, including that federal brokers should present possible trigger or cheap suspicion that somebody has dedicated against the law or is interfering with legislation enforcement operations.

Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin mentioned after the ruling that the First Modification doesn’t defend “riots,” including that DHS “takes acceptable and constitutional measures to uphold the rule of legislation and defend our officers and the general public from harmful rioters.”

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Legislation enforcement officers stand amid tear gasoline on the scene of a reported taking pictures on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (Adam Grey/AP Picture)

“We remind the general public that rioting is harmful: obstructing legislation enforcement is a federal crime and assaulting legislation enforcement is a misdemeanor,” McLaughlin mentioned in a press release to Fox Information Digital. “Rioters and terrorists have attacked legislation enforcement, taking pictures fireworks at them, slashing the tires of their autos, and destroying federal property. Others have chosen to disobey orders and have tried to impede legislation enforcement operations and have used their autos as weapons towards our officers.”

McLaughlin added that “assaulting and obstructing legislation enforcement is a legal offense.”

“Regardless of these severe threats and harmful conditions, our legislation enforcement adopted their coaching and used the minimal quantity of power essential to guard themselves, the general public and federal property,” she said.

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Federal immigration officers confront protesters outdoors the Episcopal Henry Whipple Federal Constructing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 15, 2026. (Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs)

The ruling bans federal officers from utilizing pepper spray or different non-lethal ammunition and crowd dispersal units towards peaceable protesters, the ruling state mentioned.

Moreover, Menendez wrote that safely following officers “at an acceptable distance” doesn’t, by itself, create cheap suspicion warranting a car cease.

The ruling stems from a case filed in December on behalf of six Minnesota activists represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, who argued that authorities officers violated the constitutional rights of Twin Metropolis residents.

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Federal brokers cope with agitators outdoors the Episcopal Henry Whipple Federal Constructing on January 14, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Jamie Vera/Fox Information)

Authorities attorneys mentioned brokers acted inside their authorized authority and used power appropriately as they’ve enforced immigration legal guidelines throughout the nation and in Minnesota.

The continuing unrest in Minneapolis comes after two current shootings involving ICE brokers within the metropolis.

Good died on Jan. 7 after an ICE agent shot into her car by means of the motive force’s aspect windshield and open window after she allegedly tried to run him over. He might be heard on video after the actual fact saying “f—ing b—h” as her automotive crashed right into a parked automotive.

Whereas Democrats and native residents have condemned the taking pictures as a murder and known as for the officer to be prosecuted, the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers have defended the incident, arguing it was a justified taking pictures.

Members of legislation enforcement work on the scene following the deadly taking pictures of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent throughout federal operations on January 7, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Photographs)

Then on Wednesday, an ICE officer was significantly injured after he was ambushed by three unlawful immigrants throughout a visitors cease concentrating on a Venezuelan, federal officers mentioned. One suspect was shot and all three had been taken into custody after the arrest escalated right into a chase and violent wrestle, authorities mentioned.

Menendez is chairing a separate lawsuit filed Monday by the state of Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, in search of to droop enforcement motion.

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The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.

Sophia Compton of Fox Information Digital and The Related Press contributed to this report.