Federal Court Ruling Traps Minnesota Immigrants in Texas Detention

Thousands sent to remote facilities with little chance of release on bond or return to Minnesota

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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A recent federal appeals court ruling means immigrants detained in Minnesota and sent to Texas detention facilities won't be released on bond, trapping them in remote facilities far from their homes and legal counsel. Thousands of immigrants have been swept up in Operation Metro Surge and quickly transferred to Texas, often before they can access an attorney or have an initial hearing.

Why it matters

The ruling upends decades of legal precedent and makes it extremely difficult for immigrants detained in Minnesota to access the legal system and fight their cases. Advocates say the policy of rapidly transferring detainees out of state before they can establish legal representation is intentional, denying them due process.

The details

The Federal Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans upheld the Trump administration's policy that anyone who entered the U.S. without permission is not eligible for bond. This decision covers Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, home to some of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's largest detention facilities. Detainees report being held in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions in Texas, with no privacy and having to sleep on the floor without blankets.

  • The Fifth Circuit's ruling was issued on February 6, 2026.
  • Operation Metro Surge, which led to the mass detentions and transfers, is expected to end soon.

The players

Federal Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

The federal appeals court that upheld the Trump administration's policy denying bond to immigrants who entered the U.S. without permission.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants, including those swept up in Operation Metro Surge.

Anonymous Immigrant

A young man from the Twin Cities who was held in a Texas detention facility after being swept up in Operation Metro Surge, describing the unsanitary and overcrowded conditions.

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What’s next

The judge presiding over the case is expected to rule on whether to allow the immigrants detained in Minnesota to be released on bond in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This ruling further erodes due process for undocumented immigrants, trapping them in remote detention facilities far from their homes and legal counsel. It highlights the ongoing battle over immigration enforcement and the rights of those caught in the system.