DOJ moves to sideline Minnesota judges from DHS immigration cases
The Justice Department filed a misconduct complaint to force seven Minnesota federal judges off Department of Homeland Security matters, risking disruption of dozens of immigration cases.
The Department of Justice submitted a judicial misconduct complaint on September 30, seeking the recusal of seven federal judges in Minnesota from cases tied to the Department of Homeland Security. The move follows the judges' comments to a major newspaper about the administration's immigration enforcement. Court filings reveal that six of the judges are handling at least 50 active cases, ranging from challenges to ICE detention practices to efforts to halt deportations, while the identity of the seventh judge has not been disclosed.
Justice Connection’s executive director, Stacey Young, condemned the effort as intimidation of an independent judiciary. The complaint itself does not automatically strip the judges of their dockets, and the DOJ has not disclosed how many proceedings could be affected. Reporter Tom Latchem uncovered the scope of the effort through federal court records.
Why it matters
Removing judges could stall or alter hundreds of immigration cases, affecting detainees and the broader judicial independence.
How this story developed
- Aug 13 San Antonio immigrants live in constant fear as ICE arrests surge
- Oct 10 An off‑duty ICE agent was shot after allegedly assaulting a homeowner and his father in Fresno.
- Oct 11 During a targeted ICE operation in Harris County, a deported Mexican illegal alien fled, causing a foot chase that led to a vehicle striking another undocumented man, who was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
- Oct 12 Homeland Security Investigations agents raided Rep. Ilhan Omar’s residence in Washington, D.C., early Monday as part of a DOJ-led fraud investigation into her immigration filings.
- Oct 12 Federal agents executed a pre‑dawn search of Omar’s D.C. home.
- Oct 14 Democracy Defenders Fund submitted a Hatch Act complaint alleging the raid violated election‑interference rules.
- Oct 14 Subpoenas were served on several of Omar’s relatives.
- Oct 15 Federal investigators have taken Rep. Ilhan Omar's phone and issued more than a dozen grand-jury subpoenas, including to family members, as part of a criminal inquiry into her immigration paperwork.
- Oct 15 Federal agents seized Omar’s phone and issued subpoenas to her relatives.
- Oct 16 Rep. Delia Ramirez introduced legislation to dismantle the Department of Homeland Security.
- Oct 17 House Majority Whip Tom Emmer called for Omar’s jail and deportation if the fraud investigation is substantiated.
- Oct 18 Barack Obama posted on X condemning the investigation as retaliation for Omar’s criticism of the administration.
- Oct 19 District Attorney Sean Teare is assembling evidence for a possible grand‑jury hearing.
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