A Liberian man in Minnesota has been taken back into custody just one day after a federal judge ordered his release, condemning the armed, battering-ram raid used to detain him as unlawful.
Judge Rules Arrest Unlawful, But Detention Continues
Garrison Gibson, 37, was first arrested last weekend in a dramatic operation captured on video. Armed agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) used a battering ram to break down his door in Minneapolis, acting without a judicial warrant.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan ruled the arrest was unlawful. However, Gibson's freedom was short-lived. His lawyer, Marc Prokosch, said his client was detained again on Friday during a routine check-in at an immigration office.
"We were there for a check-in and the original officer said, 'This looks good, I'll be right back,'" Prokosch stated. "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?'"
Part of a Wider, Intensifying Crackdown
Gibson's case is not isolated. According to the Department of Homeland Security, his arrest is one of more than 2,500 made during a weeks-long immigration enforcement operation across Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Authorities report that the operation has grown more confrontational since the fatal shooting of Renee Good on 7 January 2026. Gibson, who fled the Liberian civil war as a child, had a prior removal order linked to a 2008 drug conviction that was later dismissed. He had been living in the U.S. legally under an order of supervision, requiring regular meetings with immigration officials.
Community Response and Wider Fallout
The aggressive tactics have sparked significant community concern and action. Tribal leaders and Native American rights organisations are now advising anyone with a tribal ID to carry it at all times in case they are stopped by ICE officers.
This follows multiple reports from across the U.S. of Native Americans being detained or questioned by immigration agents. Ben Barnes, Chief of the Shawnee Tribe and chair of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma, called the reports "deeply concerning". In response, organisers in Minneapolis have set up application booths to help people obtain tribal identification.
Meanwhile, the political climate remains volatile. President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act to deploy troops and suppress protests during immigration sweeps, a move Minnesota's attorney general has vowed to challenge in court.
In a related incident, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed at least one arrest after an FBI vehicle was vandalised and robbed in Minneapolis on Wednesday evening. Stolen items reportedly included body armour and weapons.
