A federal judge in Minnesota has ordered the release of Garrison Gibson, a Liberian man, after immigration agents conducted a raid on his home without proper warrant, leading to an unlawful arrest. This intervention, deemed a violation of Gibson's Fourth Amendment rights, showcases the increasing tension surrounding immigration enforcement operations in the region.
Judge Jeffrey Bryan criticized the Department of Homeland Security for their methods, stating that agents forcibly entered Gibson's home without consent or a judicial warrant, constituting an illegal search and seizure.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has intensified immigration enforcement in Minnesota, claiming that over 2,500 individuals have been arrested since November 29 as part of what they described as the largest operation in the area.
After the ruling, Marc Prokosch, Gibson's attorney, expressed his satisfaction, pointing out the blatant constitutional violation connected to the lack of a proper warrant during the arrest.
During the raid, Gibson's wife and their 9-year-old child were present in their Minneapolis home, an experience that reportedly left them considerably shaken.
After the raid, Gibson was detained at an immigration facility in Albert Lea, previously having been held in a camp at Fort Bliss Army base in Texas. His legal battles stem from a prior drug conviction from 2008, which has since been dismissed, allowing him to remain in the U.S. under an order of supervision.
Despite having recently checked in with immigration authorities, Gibson was suddenly detained without sufficient notice. Judge Bryan supported Gibson's claims that the processes followed by officials violated regulations, illustrating a critical gap in the immigration enforcement system.
The situation in Minnesota has been heightened by public fear and anger after recent altercations involving immigration agents, including the shooting of individuals in tense situations, raising alarm about the increased hostilities pervading the region amid the Trump administration's immigration policies.
