ICE’s Warrant‑Less Home Entries, Child Detentions Fuel Nationwide Protests and Legal Battles
Updated (6 articles)
Administrative Warrants Ignite Fourth Amendment Criticism The White House defended a May 2025 memo allowing ICE agents to enter homes with “administrative warrants” signed by agency officials, bypassing judicial approval [1]. Vice President JD Vance warned courts might reject the policy, acknowledging legal uncertainty [1]. Critics argue the practice erodes Fourth Amendment protections and lacks executive oversight [1]. DHS denied any record of racial‑profiling stops, despite local law‑enforcement reports to the contrary [1].
Renee Good Shooting Triggers FBI Probe Shift ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Minneapolis mother Renee Good in early January [1][3]. An independent autopsy recorded three gunshot wounds, prompting the FBI to reclassify the case from civil‑rights to assault [3]. The FBI agent overseeing the investigation resigned after the probe’s scope changed [2]. Polls show 56 % of U.S. adults view the force as inappropriate, intensifying scrutiny of ICE’s use‑of‑force policies [1].
Liam Conejo Ramos Detention Highlights Child Bait Allegations On January 13, ICE seized five‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father Adrian Conejo Arias from their driveway after the boy allegedly knocked on the door to confirm occupancy, a tactic school officials described as using a child as bait [4][2]. ICE maintains the child was not targeted and that one officer stayed with him for safety while the father fled [4]. The family is pursuing an asylum claim and has no deportation order [4]. The incident marks the fourth student from Columbia Heights schools detained in two weeks [4].
Subzero Minneapolis Protests Lead to Hundreds Arrested Thousands gathered in downtown Minneapolis on Jan 23‑24 despite wind chills below ‑20 °F, closing businesses and prompting an “economic blackout” [2][3]. Approximately 100 demonstrators were cited at the Minneapolis‑St. Paul International Airport, and overall arrests approached 100 during the rally [3]. ICE expanded its operation to Maine, announcing more than 100 arrests, including a corrections‑officer recruit who crossed illegally in 2019 [2]. Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino pledged “wholesale” arrests of “criminal aliens,” reinforcing the enforcement surge [2].
DHS Detainer Counts Clash With State Data Amid Home Break‑In DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin cited 1,360 Minnesota detainees, while the state corrections chief reported only about 301, highlighting a stark data dispute [3][1]. On Jan 20, ICE agents entered naturalized citizen ChongLy “Scott” Thao’s St. Paul home without presenting a warrant, handcuffing him in minimal clothing amid sub‑zero weather [5]. DHS described the operation as targeting two convicted sex offenders, a claim Thao refuted, asserting he has no criminal record [5]. St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her condemned the raid as “un‑American,” reflecting growing local backlash [5].
Sources
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1.
CNN: ICE’s Controversial Tactics Spur Growing Political Backlash: Details White House May 2025 memo on administrative warrants, VP JD Vance’s legal caution, and public poll condemning ICE actions, emphasizing political fallout.
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2.
CNN: Minnesota ICE crackdown faces protests as officials double down: Reports mass Minneapolis protests, Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino’s “wholesale” arrest pledge, and the detention of 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos, highlighting enforcement intensity.
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3.
CNN: Minnesota ICE crackdown sparks protests, arrests and legal battles: Covers Jan 23 rally, airport arrests, release of church protesters, and DHS demand for state detainee hand‑over amid disputed numbers.
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4.
Newsweek: ICE Used 5-Year-Old as Bait During Minneapolis‑Area Arrest, School Officials Say: Presents school district testimony that ICE used Liam Conejo Ramos as bait, describes Operation Metro Surge’s 3,000‑agent deployment, and notes related student detentions.
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5.
AP: US citizen says ICE in Minnesota broke into his home without a warrant: Chronicles warrantless entry on a St. Paul citizen, alleged targeting of sex offenders, and mayor Kaohly Her’s condemnation, illustrating community backlash.
Timeline
May 2025 – The White House issues a memo authorizing ICE agents to enter homes with “administrative warrants” signed by ICE officers, bypassing judicial approval and sparking Fourth Amendment concerns and criticism for lacking oversight[1].
Dec 2025 – Operation Metro Surge deploys roughly 3,000 federal agents (ICE, CBP, HSI) to the Twin Cities, targeting immigration violations and alleged crimes in the largest enforcement push to date, setting the stage for subsequent protests[4].
Jan 13, 2026 – ICE detains two Minneapolis residents for several hours in a cramped federal facility, subjecting them to pepper spray, limited water, and constant surveillance; a DHS investigator offers money for names of protest organizers, which the detainee refuses, highlighting intimidation tactics[6].
Jan 13, 2026 – Columbia Heights school officials report that ICE agents use 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos as bait, directing him to knock on his own door while officers wait, after his father flees; the family, seeking asylum, is taken to a Texas detention center[4].
Jan 20, 2026 – ICE agents forcibly enter U.S. citizen ChongLy “Scott” Thao’s St. Paul home without presenting a warrant, handcuff him at gunpoint in minimal clothing, and transport him to a remote site before releasing him, prompting Mayor Kaohly Her to condemn the operation as “un‑American”[5].
Jan 22, 2026 – DHS defends the Jan 13 arrest, saying an officer stayed with the child for safety and that the operation targets two convicted sex offenders, a claim Thao disputes, underscoring conflicting narratives about the raid’s justification[5].
Jan 23, 2026 – Hundreds rally in sub‑zero weather across downtown Minneapolis; about 100 protesters are arrested at the airport, while two church activists are released from conspiracy charges, illustrating escalating civil resistance and legal battles[3].
Jan 24, 2026 – Mass protests fill downtown Minneapolis and the Timberwolves arena despite subzero temperatures, businesses close in an “economic blackout,” and DHS pressures Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey to hand over over 1,000 detainers, which state officials dispute as far lower[2][3].
Jan 24, 2026 – Vice President JD Vance acknowledges that courts may reject the administrative‑warrant policy, stating, “now it’s possible, I guess, that the courts will say no… that’s our understanding of the law,” reflecting internal uncertainty about the May 2025 memo[1].
Jan 24, 2026 – Border Patrol Commander‑at‑Large Gregory Bovino vows “wholesale” arrests of “criminal aliens,” declaring “We won’t quit,” reinforcing the federal commitment to aggressive enforcement amid growing backlash[2].
Jan 24, 2026 – A CNN poll shows 56 % of U.S. adults deem the shooting of ICE agent Jonathan Ross killing Renee Good “inappropriate,” and 51 % say it reflects broader ICE problems, indicating rising public opposition to ICE tactics[1].
Jan 24, 2026 – DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin says Minnesota could “easily quell” tensions if state officials honor ICE detainers, implying a potential future handover of detainees pending political negotiations[2][3].
All related articles (6 articles)
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CNN: ICE’s Controversial Tactics Spur Growing Political Backlash
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CNN: Minnesota ICE crackdown faces protests as officials double down
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CNN: Minnesota ICE crackdown sparks protests, arrests and legal battles (Jan 23 2026)
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Newsweek: ICE Used 5-Year-Old as Bait During Minneapolis-Area Arrest, School Officials Say
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AP: US citizen says ICE in Minnesota broke into his home without a warrant
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AP: Minneapolis residents detained by ICE allege harsh detention conditions
External resources (11 links)
- https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/04/30/100-days-fighting-fake-news (cited 2 times)
- https://www.justice.gov/crt/statutes-enforced-criminal-section (cited 2 times)
- https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/us/chongly-scott-thao-ice-arrest.html (cited 1 times)
- https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/us/politics/ice-warrant-whistleblower.html (cited 1 times)
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/12/09/trump-family-separation-mass-deportations/ (cited 1 times)
- https://www.facebook.com/events/s/ice-out-of-minnesota-day-of-tr/1772691910085908/ (cited 2 times)
- https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2014689581803667884?s=20 (cited 2 times)
- https://x.com/TriciaOhio/status/2014498246710657511 (cited 1 times)
- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:ccd807d9-0321-471b-a27d-a8620ea97813?viewer%21megaVerb=group-discover (cited 1 times)
- https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/ice-in-minnesota/twin-cities-law-enforcement-raises-concerns-about-ice-agents-racially-profiling-citizens/89-80f7b210-df6f-4516-9c05-20cf8890c7bb (cited 1 times)
- https://www.reportforamerica.org/ (cited 1 times)