In an order dated Monday, Chief Judge Patrick J Schiltz said Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, must appear personally in court. Schlitz took the administration to task over its handling of bond hearings for immigrants it has detained.
"This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision for dealing with the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that were sure to result," the judge wrote.
The order comes a day after President Donald Trump order border czar Tom Homan to take over his administration's immigration crackdown in Minnesota following the second death this month of person at the hands of an immigration law enforcement officer.
Messages were sent Tuesday to ICE and a DHS spokesperson seeking a response.
"Respondents have continually assured the Court that they recognise their obligation to comply with Court orders, and that they have taken steps to ensure that those orders will be honoured going forward," Schlitz continued in the order.
"Unfortunately, though, the violations continue."
The judge said he recognises that ordering the head of a federal agency to appear personally was extraordinary.
"But the extent of ICE's violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed," Schlitz wrote.
Schlitz's order lists the petitioner by first name and last initials: Juan TR. It says the court granted a petition on January 14 from the person to provide him with a bond hearing within seven days. On January 23, the person's lawyers told the court the petitioner remained detained.
The order says Schlitz will cancel Lyons' appearance if the petitioner is released from custody.
