Legal experts were taken aback after a federal judge issued an “extraordinary” warning to President Donald Trump’s immigration forces in a new court order on Wednesday.
Federal Judge Patrick J. Shiltz of the District of Minnesota issued an order cancelling an upcoming contempt hearing for acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Todd Lyons over his agency’s seeming inability to follow court orders. In the order, Shlitz noted 96 instances in which ICE had violated a court order.
“ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence,” Schiltz wrote. “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.”
The order was issued at a time when Trump’s immigration regime is facing increased scrutiny following the deaths of two American citizens in Minneapolis, both of whom were killed by immigration agents. Lawmakers have called for Department of Homeland Security Secretary and White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller to either be fired or resign.
Legal experts reacted to Schiltz’s order on social media.
Connor Lamb, a lawyer at Kline & Specter, wrote on Bluesky that the order was “stunning.”
“75 billion dollars to fund more of this,” Anton Sorkin, director of Law Student Ministries at the Christian Legal Society, posted on X.
“An extraordinary document. Read it,” immigration lawyer Aaron Reichlin-Melnick posted on X.
“A stunning order from MN’s Chief Judge Schiltz. He says ICE has violated court orders more times this month than some federal agencies have in their entire existence. Most deal with ICE failure to follow the law in detaining immigrants,” journalist Carol Leonnig posted on X.
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