Demand Accountability for ICE Property Seizures During Operation Metro Surge

I am writing to demand immediate accountability for the egregious conduct by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. On a Friday night, Judge John Tunheim in Minneapolis issued an extraordinary ruling addressing ICE's systematic failure to return personal property to detainees, even after court orders mandated their release. The facts are deeply troubling. In one case, six individuals were arrested at gunpoint in their home in January 2026. The government failed to produce a warrant by the court-ordered deadline of 5:00 p.m. on January 19, 2026, leading to a release order. It took three additional days and contempt threats before all were released. In early February, their property still hadn't been returned, including work permits and driver's licenses. Other cases involved property ICE claimed it "couldn't find," then found 30 days later. One woman's iPhone, watch, wallet, and identification were reported found, then lost, then found again in a sealed bag in Texas. Another person lost a nail gun, over $100 cash, social security card, and work authorization card. Judge Tunheim noted this represents "an absolute breakdown of good order and discipline at ICE and CBP." Standard law enforcement procedures require itemized lists of seized property. This didn't happen. The human impact is severe: primary breadwinners whose families face food insecurity, people who lost jobs and cannot get new ones without documents, and individuals who fear additional arrests because they cannot prove their identity. The judge ordered the government to compensate all submitted claims within 30 days and scheduled a hearing for Day 31. If claims aren't satisfied, he will impose civil contempt and daily fines on individual officials, not taxpayers. Judge Bryan has another 25 similar cases, indicating this is widespread. I urge you to demand a full investigation into Operation Metro Surge, hold ICE leadership accountable for this breakdown in basic law enforcement standards, and ensure individual officials responsible for this cruelty face consequences. Federal courts are confronting this administration's disregard for the rule of law. Congress must do the same.