Trump Administration Appeals Judge’s Limits on ICE Tactics in Minneapolis

The Trump administration said on Saturday it is appealing a federal judge’s ruling that restricts tactics used by U.S. immigration agents operating in the Minneapolis area. In a brief court filing, Justice Department lawyers said they are challenging an order issued Friday that bars federal officers from arresting or using chemical agents against peaceful demonstrators and observers.

The order followed a lawsuit filed on December 17 against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies, weeks before an immigration agent fatally shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis — an incident that sparked widespread protests. In recent weeks, the administration has deployed thousands of immigration agents to the area as part of a campaign to ramp up deportations of people living in the U.S. without authorization.

The judge’s order explicitly prohibits federal officers from detaining people who are peacefully protesting or simply observing enforcement actions, unless there is reasonable suspicion they are interfering with law enforcement or have committed a crime. It also bans the use of pepper spray, tear gas or other crowd-control munitions against peaceful demonstrators or bystanders who are observing and recording immigration operations.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright