Decline in new filings coincides with ICE reduction announcement, but courts still busy
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
According to an MPR News analysis of court filings, the number of people challenging ICE arrests and detentions is falling as federal officials report a reduction in personnel in the state.
During a several-week period spanning from mid January to the first week of February, between 25 and 30 habeas corpus petitions were filed per day in federal court. As of the last week in February, the pace of new filings has slowed to seven to 10 per day.
According to court documents filed in a class-action lawsuit that alleges that agents are engaging in racial profiling, officials indicated that fewer than 1,000 immigration agents are left in Minnesota.
That’s down from more than 4,000 combined U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and other personnel at the peak of the surge. But it’s still hundreds more than the typical federal footprint in the state.
Groups that monitor ICE activity have responded with skepticism to a White House official’s announcement last month that the large-scale enforcement operation was at an end.
While it appears the pace of ICE arrests has slowed, the courts are still active. Since the beginning of so-called “Operation Metro Surge” in December 2025, attorneys have filed around 1,000 cases challenging the legality of the arrests and detentions.
Hundreds of cases remain active as attorneys seek the release of people detained during the height of the ICE enforcement surge.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
