A federal judge in Minnesota has issued an injunction to curb the tactics used by federal agents against protesters in Minneapolis, citing concerns over their chilling effect on free speech and assembly.
The ruling, which was issued on Friday, restricts the use of certain aggressive tactics by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minneapolis. These tactics include drawing and pointing weapons at protesters, using pepper spray and other non-lethal munitions, and arresting or detaining people who are participating in peaceful protests.
The judge's decision comes as a response to the growing tensions between federal authorities and local residents in Minneapolis, which have escalated following the deployment of thousands of Border Patrol and ICE agents to the city. The deployment was part of Operation Metro Surge, a massive immigration enforcement operation aimed at quelling an influx of asylum seekers.
The ruling also bars ICE officers from stopping or detaining drivers and passengers without good cause, and from using force against protesters who are exercising their First Amendment rights.
In response to the judge's decision, Mayor Jacob Frey issued a statement saying that he is "intimidated" by Trump's administration and its investigation into him. He vowed to continue advocating for his city and its residents, despite the threats and intimidation.
Governor Tim Walz also responded to the news of the federal investigation, stating that it is an attempt to intimidate him for standing up against the chaos and danger brought by the Administration. Walz emphasized the importance of integrity and the rule of law in governance, saying that neither his city nor the country will succumb to fear.
The Trump administration has been investigating whether public statements made by state and local leaders, including Walz and Frey, could be seen as criminal interference with federal operations.
In other news, a new poll by CNN found that 61% of Americans disapprove of Donald Trump's first year back in office. The president spoke at a ceremony honoring him with the renaming of a four-mile stretch of road in Palm Beach to "President Donald J. Trump Boulevard".
The ruling, which was issued on Friday, restricts the use of certain aggressive tactics by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minneapolis. These tactics include drawing and pointing weapons at protesters, using pepper spray and other non-lethal munitions, and arresting or detaining people who are participating in peaceful protests.
The judge's decision comes as a response to the growing tensions between federal authorities and local residents in Minneapolis, which have escalated following the deployment of thousands of Border Patrol and ICE agents to the city. The deployment was part of Operation Metro Surge, a massive immigration enforcement operation aimed at quelling an influx of asylum seekers.
The ruling also bars ICE officers from stopping or detaining drivers and passengers without good cause, and from using force against protesters who are exercising their First Amendment rights.
In response to the judge's decision, Mayor Jacob Frey issued a statement saying that he is "intimidated" by Trump's administration and its investigation into him. He vowed to continue advocating for his city and its residents, despite the threats and intimidation.
Governor Tim Walz also responded to the news of the federal investigation, stating that it is an attempt to intimidate him for standing up against the chaos and danger brought by the Administration. Walz emphasized the importance of integrity and the rule of law in governance, saying that neither his city nor the country will succumb to fear.
The Trump administration has been investigating whether public statements made by state and local leaders, including Walz and Frey, could be seen as criminal interference with federal operations.
In other news, a new poll by CNN found that 61% of Americans disapprove of Donald Trump's first year back in office. The president spoke at a ceremony honoring him with the renaming of a four-mile stretch of road in Palm Beach to "President Donald J. Trump Boulevard".
gotta protect our rights 2 protest n express ourselves without goin down 2 gettin hurt by those fed agents 
they r already so aggressive w/ their tactics now dey wanna chill us? no way fam 
we can't let dem intimidate us or our leaders mayor frey an governor walz are keepin it real an standing up 4 what's right 
gotta support dem an show em dat we won't b bullied 
Those protesters have a right to express themselves & we gotta protect that, but at same time, law enforcement needs to know they can't just do whatever they want 
... it's like finding a balance, you know? 
A federal judge trying to step in because the tactics were getting too extreme 
... I think that's good. And Mayor Frey and Governor Walz are right to stand up for their cities & not let intimidation get to them 
... it's all about standing up for what's right, even when it's hard 
... I'm glad the judge stepped in to put an end to this unnecessary intimidation tactic 
. Like, if you're really so concerned about your safety, maybe you should be working on fixing the system that allows these situations to happen in the first place? And honestly, I'm surprised more people aren't speaking out against this kind of behavior from federal agents... it's basically assault with a badge 
. Maybe we should start calling them "border patrol bullies" instead of ICE officers 
.
, i mean i get it, protests are important, but can't we just talk about our differences instead of getting all aggressive? 
the judge's ruling is a good start, maybe it'll calm things down a bit. I don't think the mayor and governor should be intimidated by trump's admin tho, they're doing their job, shouldn't they get some respect? 
i guess it just goes to show that people are getting tired of all the drama surrounding him. anyway, let's just hope we can keep it peaceful and civil in minnesota 
it's like, can't we just find a middle ground here? 
Can you believe this? A federal judge is like, "Hey guys, chill out! No more gunpointing and pepper spray on peaceful protesters!" 
It's about time someone put a stop to that drama. I mean, who wants their First Amendment rights threatened just because they're exercising them peacefully? Not me, that's for sure 
. And now Mayor Frey is all like "I'm intimidated by Trump" - poor guy needs to toughen up! 
. On the bright side, at least 61% of Americans are saying "no way" to Trump's antics - that's some good news! 
. Free speech and assembly are fundamental rights that shouldn't be messed with 
, its about time someone stands up for free speech and assembly in this country, i feel bad for mayor frey and gov walz getting intimidated by trump's admin, but at the same time i get why they're not going to back down, integrity and rule of law gotta be defended