Judge Rules ICE Violated Court Orders by Spying on Minneapolis Churchgoers

POLICY WIRE — Minneapolis, USA — A federal judge has ruled that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) violated court orders by conducting undercover surveillance on worshippers at a Minneapolis church. The operation, dubbed ‘Operation Puppet Master’, involved ICE agents posing as congregants to gather intelligence.

The judge’s ruling came after evidence surfaced indicating that ICE had ignored previous court directives prohibiting such activities. The agency now faces potential contempt charges for its actions.

“ICE’s actions in this case were a clear violation of established court orders,” the judge stated. “The agency’s disregard for legal boundaries raises serious concerns about civil liberties and the rule of law.”

Details of ‘Operation Puppet Master’ were revealed through court documents and testimonies from church members who became aware of the undercover agents. The operation aimed to gather information on potential immigration violations among the congregation.

Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, is now under scrutiny for its handling of the situation. The department may be held in contempt of court if it fails to address the judge’s findings adequately.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)