Minnesota Judge Finds U.S. Government in Contempt Over Immigration Court Order Violations

Repeated failures to comply with court orders related to immigrant detentions lead to civil contempt findings against federal government.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Minnesota federal judge has issued another civil contempt finding against the U.S. government for violating court orders in immigration cases. U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud found the government in contempt for transferring an immigrant to Texas and releasing him without his belongings, despite a court order barring his transfer out of Minnesota. This is the latest in a series of contempt findings by Minnesota federal judges over the government's failure to comply with court orders related to immigrant detentions.

Why it matters

The repeated violations of court orders by the U.S. government in immigration cases highlight ongoing tensions between the federal judiciary and the administration's immigration enforcement policies. These contempt findings underscore the challenges the courts face in trying to hold the government accountable and protect the rights of immigrants caught up in the system.

The details

In late January, Judge Tostrud found the Trump administration in civil contempt for transferring an immigrant named Fernando Gutierrez Torres to Texas and releasing him without his belongings, despite a court order barring his transfer out of Minnesota. Tostrud ordered the government to pay Gutierrez Torres' lawyer $568.29 for the cost of his plane ticket back to Minnesota. This comes just days after another Minnesota federal judge, Laura Provinzino, found a U.S. government lawyer in contempt over the handling of court orders tied to immigration cases.

  • On January 20, Judge Tostrud ordered the U.S. government to not transfer Gutierrez Torres out of Minnesota while his habeas petition was pending.
  • On January 22, the government notified the court that Gutierrez Torres had been transported to El Paso, Texas.
  • On January 24, Judge Tostrud ordered the government to return Gutierrez Torres to Minnesota, but ICE instead released him in El Paso without his belongings.

The players

Judge Eric Tostrud

A U.S. District Judge in Minnesota who found the U.S. government in civil contempt for violating a court order to not transfer an immigrant detainee out of the state.

Fernando Gutierrez Torres

A Mexican citizen who filed a habeas petition seeking release from immigration custody and an order barring his transfer out of Minnesota, which the court granted.

Ronnie Santana and Evangeline Surya Ester Dhawan-Maloney

The lawyers representing Fernando Gutierrez Torres, who expressed appreciation for the court's ruling and noted their client is one of many facing wrongful detention.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We're glad that we were able to achieve the result that we got and to at least try to bring some light to the situation.”

— Ronnie Santana, Lawyer for Fernando Gutierrez Torres

What’s next

The judge in the case has ordered the U.S. government to pay the lawyer's costs for Gutierrez Torres' return to Minnesota. It remains to be seen if the government will face any further sanctions or if this will lead to broader changes in how immigration court orders are handled.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the federal judiciary and the administration's immigration enforcement policies, as courts struggle to hold the government accountable and protect the rights of immigrants. The repeated contempt findings underscore the challenges the courts face in ensuring the government complies with their orders in these high-stakes immigration cases.