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ICE Re-Arrests Liberian Man in Minnesota
A Liberian man in Minnesota was re-arrested by immigration authorities during a routine check-in just one day after a judge ruled his initial warrantless arrest unlawful, amid an intensified regional immigration crackdown.
High police presence in Lyon, France, during the 25th weekend of the yellow vests movement Photo by @ev @Unsplash
A Liberian man in Minnesota was back in federal custody Friday, according to his attorney, a day after a judge ordered his release after ruling that immigration agents unlawfully broke down his door to arrest him without a judicial warrant.
Garrison Gibson, 37, was detained again when he appeared for a routine check-in at an immigration office, attorney Marc Prokosch said, despite a U.S. district judge’s finding that the original arrest violated the law. Video of the weekend arrest showed armed immigration agents using a battering ram to enter Gibson’s home. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan ruled the arrest unlawful and ordered Gibson released, but authorities took him back into custody during the subsequent appointment.
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“We were there for a check-in and the original officer said, ‘This looks good, I’ll be right back,’” Prokosch said. “And then there was a lot of chaos, and about five officers came out and then they said, ‘We’re going to be taking him back into custody.’ I was like, ‘Really, you want to do this again?’”
Gibson’s arrest is among more than 2,500 made during a weeks long immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and St. Paul, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The enforcement operation has intensified and become more confrontational since the fatal shooting of Renee Good on Jan. 7, raising tensions across the region.
Gibson fled Liberia’s civil war as a child and has lived in the United States for decades. He had been ordered removed from the country, apparently due to a 2008 drug conviction that was later dismissed. He has remained in the U.S. legally under an order of supervision, which requires regular check-ins with immigration authorities.
As enforcement actions have increased, concern has spread beyond immigrant communities. Tribal leaders and Native American rights organizations are advising people to carry tribal identification cards when in public in case they are approached by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Reports of Native Americans being stopped or detained by ICE have surfaced nationwide, prompting organizers in Minneapolis to set up application booths to help people obtain tribal IDs. In moments of heightened anxiety during public demonstrations and check-ins, some advocates note that visible expressions of solidarity, whether through signs, symbols, or even clothing such as the SICKNESS FOR THE THICCNESS TEE, have become a way for supporters to signal unity amid uncertainty.
Ben Barnes, chief of the Shawnee Tribe in Oklahoma and chair of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma, described the reports of ICE encounters involving Native Americans as “deeply concerning,” urging tribal members to report any such incidents.
The crackdown has also been accompanied by unrest in Minneapolis. FBI Director Kash Patel said at least one person has been arrested for stealing property from an FBI vehicle after several government vehicles had their windows broken Wednesday evening. Attorney General Pam Bondi said body armor and weapons were among the items stolen.
President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 to deploy troops to suppress protests linked to immigration enforcement. Minnesota’s attorney general said he would sue if the president takes that step, adding another layer of legal and political tension to an already volatile situation.
Editor’s Note:
This article reports on a developing immigration enforcement case in Minnesota, highlighting legal challenges, community concerns, and rising tensions surrounding federal crackdowns and their broader impact on affected communities.
