Judge Weighs Extending Protections for Minnesota Refugees Facing Arrest and Deportation

Federal judge to hear arguments on whether to extend order blocking government from targeting refugees in Minnesota

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A federal judge in Minnesota will hear arguments on whether to extend a temporary order that protects refugees lawfully in the U.S. from being arrested and deported by the federal government. The order was issued last month after refugee rights groups sued the federal government over Operation PARRIS, an initiative to reexamine the cases of thousands of Minnesota refugees who had not yet obtained permanent residency.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the federal government's immigration enforcement efforts and the legal rights of refugees who have been admitted to the U.S. due to persecution in their home countries. The judge's ruling could have significant implications for the ability of federal authorities to target and detain refugees in Minnesota and potentially set a precedent for other states.

The details

In January, U.S. District Judge John Tunheim blocked the government from targeting these refugees, saying the plaintiffs were likely to prevail on their claims that the arrests and detentions were unlawful. The government had cited fraud in public programs as justification for Operation PARRIS, which was part of the Trump administration's broader immigration crackdown. The lawsuit alleges ICE officers went door-to-door arresting refugees and sending them to detention centers in Texas, without access to attorneys.

  • On January 28, Judge Tunheim issued a temporary restraining order protecting Minnesota refugees from arrest and deportation.
  • The temporary order is set to expire on February 25 unless Tunheim grants a more permanent preliminary injunction.
  • The hearing on whether to extend the protections is scheduled for Thursday, February 19.

The players

John Tunheim

A U.S. District Judge who issued the temporary order blocking the government from targeting Minnesota refugees.

Department of Homeland Security

The federal agency that launched Operation PARRIS, an initiative to reexamine the cases of thousands of Minnesota refugees who had not yet obtained permanent residency.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

The federal agency that collaborated with DHS on Operation PARRIS.

Refugee rights groups

The plaintiffs who sued the federal government over Operation PARRIS.

U.H.A.

A refugee with no criminal history who was arrested by ICE while driving to work, according to the judge's order.

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What they’re saying

“They are not committing crimes on our streets, nor did they illegally cross the border. Refugees have a legal right to be in the United States, a right to work, a right to live peacefully — and importantly, a right not to be subjected to the terror of being arrested and detained without warrants or cause in their homes or on their way to religious services or to buy groceries.”

— Judge John Tunheim

“At its best, America serves as a haven of individual liberties in a world too often full of tyranny and cruelty. We abandon that ideal when we subject our neighbors to fear and chaos.”

— Judge John Tunheim

What’s next

The judge will decide on Thursday whether to extend the temporary order protecting Minnesota refugees from arrest and deportation under Operation PARRIS.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the federal government's immigration enforcement efforts and the legal rights of refugees who have been admitted to the U.S. due to persecution in their home countries. The judge's ruling could set an important precedent for the treatment of refugees in other states.