According to reporting from Fox 9, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan, a Biden appointee, threatened during a heated hearing that he could potentially imprison officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Justice. The unusual warning came during a contempt hearing tied to the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement campaign known as Operation Metro Surge.
Bryan ordered U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen along with several ICE and DOJ officials to appear in court to address allegations of unlawful conduct. The dispute centers on claims that federal authorities failed to comply with court orders requiring the return of personal property — including cash, phones, passports, and identification documents — belonging to 28 individuals who were detained by immigration authorities and later released.
During the tense exchange, Bryan said he had “not ruled out the consequence of imprisonment” for officials involved in the case. While acknowledging that such a move would represent an extraordinary step, the judge emphasized that the possibility remained on the table. He described the scenario as something that would represent a “historic low point” for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The confrontation comes as multiple Minnesota federal judges have accused the federal government of ignoring court directives in immigration cases. Just last week, Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schlitz issued a sharp warning that the court would consider criminal contempt proceedings if federal officials failed to comply with its orders.
“This Court will continue to do whatever is required to protect the rule of law,” Schlitz said, adding that ICE would comply with court directives “one way or another.”
Bryan’s hearing also featured several pointed exchanges between the judge and government attorneys. At one moment, Bryan criticized ICE Deputy Field Office Director Tauria Rich for referring to immigrants as “aliens,” saying the court was discussing “people… not space aliens.”
Rosen pushed back on the judge’s characterization of the situation, telling the court that the government had not deliberately defied any orders.
“Your honor has made a remark smearing myself,” Rosen said at one point during the hearing, according to the Associated Press.
Rosen argued that the issue was largely administrative rather than intentional misconduct. Of the 28 cases cited by the court, he said only five remain unresolved. In instances where property was lost, Rosen said the government intends to compensate those affected, describing the situation as the result of “human error.”
He also told the court that officials believe the property was returned in the remaining cases and insisted there had been no deliberate refusal to follow the court’s instructions.
“There was no defiance, no disobedience,” Rosen said. “The government believes contempt is far beyond anything that ought to be considered here today.”
The escalating clash highlights the growing tension between federal courts and the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts, as judges, government attorneys, and immigration authorities continue to battle over the limits of executive power and compliance with court orders.
