Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota

06/19/2026

ICE has been eyeing the Prairie Correctional Facility, a private prison owned by CoreCivic in western Minnesota, since last year. DHS proposed a contract earlier this month, and it appears likely that the facility will soon be used by ICE to detain up to 1,600 immigrants.

The Department of Homeland Security has posted a proposed contract for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to use a private prison facility in western Minnesota to hold up to 1,600 immigrant detainees.

06/15/2026

Amidst outrage over the filthy and dangerous conditions of ICE detention centers, the federal government announced they will no longer report deaths that occur after someone is released from custody. The decision to scrap a previous policy that required review and reporting of such deaths comes as detainee mortality increases at an alarming rate.

The policy, issued during the Biden administration, directed the agency to review and report all detainee fatalities, including those that occurred post-release.

06/12/2026

Earlier this month, Levi Mendez-Maldonado was ordered deported by a North Carolina immigration judge, despite the fact that he had died in November 2024. His lawyer called the callousness of the five-minute hearing the “banality of evil.” The absurdity of the situation illustrates the ways in which legal systems can operate completely divorced from reality and devoid of humanity. Stefanía Arteaga, Carolina Migrant Network founder, commented, “even after death, you can’t escape deportation.”

North Carolina judge said Levi Mendez-Maldonado failed to show up in court – even after being told he had died in 2024

06/11/2026

The administration has ordered banks to scrutinize customers more closely to determine their immigration status, threatening to take action against banks whose customers are deported and thus can’t pay back loans. The order further illustrates the lengths to which the federal government will go to ensure that life in the US is as difficult for immigrants as possible.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order requiring banks to scrutinize their customers’ citizenship.

06/11/2026

Join us in congratulating ILCM’s Executive Director, Jennifer Stohl Powell, on her recognition as one of Minnesota’s most influential immigration lawyers in Minnesota Lawyer’s Legal 250 for 2026! This honor highlights Jennifer’s impressive track record in immigration legal work, outreach, and education, recognizing her leadership in nonprofit immigration legal services.

Learn more: https://minnlawyer.com/minnesota-legal-250/immigration-law/jennifer-stohl-powell/

06/10/2026

The US government has released a new website that places the administration’s aggressive immigration agenda in the context of sci-fi lore and state secrets about extra-terrestrial life. It’s no parody, however. On the website, the federal government dehumanizes immigrants, brags about how many they’ve arrested, and seeks to whip up ethno-nationalist fervor.

The White House is mocking the idea of the U.S. retaining secrets involving alien encounters by launching a space-themed website that touts the arrests of immigrants unauthorized to live in the U.S…

06/10/2026

Congratulations to ILCM board member, Teresa Padrón, on receiving the 2026 Law Student Becker Award! The Bernard P. Becker Awards recognize legal services staff and law students for their outstanding commitment to serving low-income communities. Teresa’s dedication and swift work preparing federal habeas corpus petitions have made a meaningful difference for many families with unlawfully detained loved ones, helping expand access to legal representation in federal court.

Read about the Bernard P. Becker Honors: https://mnbars.org/?pg=MSBAAnnouncements&blAction=reviewEntry&blogEntry=143859

06/09/2026

The Department of Homeland Security has instructed ICE to aggressively pursue cases against immigration attorneys who they allege are filing “false” asylum claims. While the government has previously prosecuted such cases, the new directive is a clear attempt to deter legal challenges, strike fear in attorneys, and reduce legal pathways for immigrants.

A top DHS official directed ICE attorneys to aggressively pursue administrative fraud cases against immigration lawyers accused of filing false asylum claims.

06/08/2026

Norwegian media outlet, VG, documented the story of Liam Canejo Ramos and ongoing ICE abuses across the US. In an interview with VG, ILCM’s Julia Decker explained how the president’s “authority to change asylum legislation and make new rules retroactive” impacts immigration policy.

Bildet av femåringen pågrepet av ICE gikk verden rundt. – Gutten min forandret seg helt, forteller moren til VG.

06/05/2026

Fort Snelling joins other immigration courts around the country in holding mass hearings. Cramming dozens of cases on to one docket poses challenges, especially with many people lacking legal representation. Immigrant advocates say that due process is being skirted with mass hearings and that late notice for court changes could facilitate faster deportations.

Advocates say the docket of 73 cases put into one 'mega master' hearing at Fort Snelling immigration court is unprecedented.