Minnesota Court Injunction Against ICE Tactics 2026: Federal Curb on 3,000 Agents

A legal shield has risen against nearly 3,000 federal agents. On January 17, 2026, a federal judge in Minnesota ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to halt specific aggressive tactics used against protesters and observers. The ruling follows the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother, by an federal officer earlier this month.

The Scope of Minnesota Court Injunction Against ICE Tactics 2026

US District Judge Kate Menendez issued the injunction, which explicitly bars federal agents from retaliating against peaceful demonstrators. According to the court order, officers can't arrest or detain individuals merely for observing or protesting unless there's reasonable suspicion of a crime. Furthermore, the use of pepper spray and tear gas against non-obstructive bystanders is now prohibited.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) faces a 72-hour deadline to align its massive Minneapolis operations with the new rules. The DHS has reportedly deployed 3,000 agents, a presence that dwarfs local law enforcement and marks one of the largest deployments in US history.

Trump's Military Threat and the Insurrection Act

While the court reins in agents, President Trump is considering even more drastic measures. On Thursday, he threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, which would allow the military to perform civil law enforcement duties on domestic soil. "If I needed it, I would use it," Trump told reporters, heightening the standoff between the federal executive branch and local state leaders.