DOJ Accuses Minnesota Judges of Misconduct Over Immigration Remarks to NYT!

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has lodged a formal complaint against two federal judges in Minnesota, Senior Judge Patrick Schiltz and Senior Judge John Tunheim, accusing them of misconduct. This unusual move comes after the judges were quoted in The New York Times, raising concerns about immigration enforcement actions in the state.

The complaint specifically targets remarks made by Judge Schiltz, who until recently served as chief judge for the District of Minnesota. He had previously issued an order in January, demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cease violating directives from Minnesota federal judges concerning a surge in immigration enforcement.

Speaking to The Times, Judge Schiltz warned that ICE's non-compliance "created a grave threat to the rule of law." Judge Tunheim, who preceded Schiltz as chief judge, also shared his observations with The New York Times. He noted that many detainees whose cases they handled appeared to be "ordinary people with homes and jobs," rather than the "worst of the worst" criminals as often claimed by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials.

Tunheim was quoted saying, "They weren't arresting, in my view, people who were dangerous criminals on the street." The DOJ's complaint alleges "obvious bias" on the part of the judges, specifically citing their comments to The Times. As a result, the Department of Justice is now seeking the recusal of both judges from any cases involving the Department of Homeland Security, intensifying the conflict between the judicial and executive branches over immigration policy. #DOJ #FederalJudges #RuleOfLaw