A federal judge appointed by former President Joe Biden is tying the hands of ICE agents in Minneapolis as rioting continues to escalate in the liberal city.

Agents are now barred from detaining or using tear gas or other measures against peaceful protesters who aren’t obstructing operations, according to an order issued by U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez on Friday night.

Complicating the already heated operations and riots in the Minneapolis area, Menendez says officers would have to show probable cause or reasonable suspicion that someone has committed a crime or is obstructing law enforcement operations to act. Additionally, the judge specifically noted that following officers “at an appropriate distance” is not reason for an officer to take any action.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reacted to the order by stressing that “rioting” is not protected by the First Amendment and said DHS will continue to uphold the rule of law and protect their officers and the public.

“We remind the public that rioting is dangerous—obstructing law enforcement is a federal crime and assaulting law enforcement is a felony,” McLaughlin said in a statement. “Rioters and terrorists have assaulted law enforcement, launched fireworks at them, slashed the tires of their vehicles, and vandalized federal property. Others have chosen to ignore commands and have attempted to impede law enforcement operations and used their vehicles as weapons against our officers.”

“Despite these grave threats and dangerous situations, our law enforcement has followed their training and used the minimum amount of force necessary to protect themselves, the public, and federal property,” she added.

As highlighted by The Daily Wire, ICE operations in the liberal city have become subject to heated rioting. Fox News National Correspondent Alexis McAdams, for example, said she’s observed rioters behaving more like trained operators than spontaneous protesters.

“This isn’t a protest — it’s an operation. Anti-ICE activists in Minneapolis rapidly track, doxx, and harass anyone they believe is tied to ICE,” she said, adding, “They take pics of you, your license plate, & upload to their ‘data base.'”

This isn’t a protest — it’s an operation. Anti-ICE activists in Minneapolis rapidly track, doxx, and harass anyone they believe is tied to ICE.

They take pics of you, your license plate, & upload to their “data base”.

Follow you, harass you, & try to stop active… pic.twitter.com/s9m54zSIrW

— Alexis McAdams (@AlexisMcAdamsTV) January 16, 2026

Earlier this month, an ICE agent fatally shot a protester named Renee Good after she hit him with her vehicle during operations. DHS says the officer suffered internal bleeding from the incident and acted in self-defense, likely saving other agents, too.

Related: LIVE UPDATES: DOJ To Investigate Walz, Minneapolis Mayor, For Impeding ICE Agents

Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey are under federal investigation amid their opposition to the Trump administration’s massive immigration enforcement operation in the state, a source close to the situation confirmed to The Daily Wire.

CBS News first reported the details of the investigation, which focuses on allegations that Walz and Frey have interfered with federal immigration operations. A U.S. official told the outlet that the Justice Department is looking into statements that Walz and Frey have made regarding the recent surge in federal law enforcement to Minnesota.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche hinted at the federal government taking action against Walz and Frey, saying on Wednesday, “Minnesota insurrection is a direct result of a FAILED governor and a TERRIBLE mayor encouraging violence against law enforcement. It’s disgusting. Walz and Frey — I’m focused on stopping YOU from your terrorism by whatever means necessary. This is not a threat. It’s a promise.”

The DOJ investigation focuses on federal statute, 18 U.S.C. § 372, which addresses two or more people who conspire through “force, intimidation or threats” to prevent federal law enforcement officers from carrying out their duties, CBS News reported.

Both the governor and the mayor have made inflammatory statements about Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents following the deadly shooting of Renee Good last week. In an address on Wednesday night, Walz urged Minnesotans to follow ICE agents and record their actions to help the state “create a database of the atrocities against Minnesotans” that could be used for “future prosecutions.”

In the hours after Good was shot and killed, Frey told ICE to “get the f*ck out of Minneapolis.” Later, Frey said that ICE agents were “causing chaos” in Minneapolis and suggested that residents were asking for the city police to “fight” ICE agents “on the streets” before he urged residents to remain peaceful.

As the Minnesota Democratic leaders have denounced ICE’s actions, demonstrations in Minneapolis continue, some of which have turned violent. On Wednesday night, a federal agent was ambushed and attacked by three illegal immigrants while attempting to make an arrest, according to the Department of Homeland Security. After the second ICE-involved shooting, demonstrators descended on the scene of the incident and confronted federal officers. Some of the agitators threw fireworks at law enforcement, and the crowd was cleared out of the area with tear gas.

President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act on Thursday, blasting “corrupt politicians in Minnesota,” who “don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E.” On Friday, however, Trump told reporters outside of the White House that he doesn’t think there’s “any reason right now right now” to use the Insurrection Act.