MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A Liberian man has been taken back into custody a day after a judge ordered his release, following a chaotic arrest by federal immigration agents in Minnesota. Garrison Gibson, aged 37, became the center of controversy after armed agents broke down his door, capturing the moment on video.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan ruled that the arrest was unlawful due to the lack of a judicial warrant. However, Gibson was re-arrested when he arrived for a check-in at an immigration office, leading to confusion and frustration from his attorney, Marc Prokosch.
“The officer initially said everything looked good, but then chaos ensued as multiple officers appeared and took him back into custody,” recounted Prokosch.
This ordeal is part of a wider immigration enforcement sweep in Minnesota where over 2,500 arrests have been made recently, amid what many see as increasingly aggressive tactics by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The crackdown has been exacerbated following a fatal incident involving a local resident, leading to heightened tensions and protests.
Gibson is a child refugee who fled the Liberian civil war. Despite a 2008 drug conviction that was later dismissed, he has been living in the U.S. under an order of supervision, meaning he was required to check in regularly with immigration authorities.
Additionally, leaders from Native American communities are advising individuals to carry tribal identification to protect themselves from unexpected ICE encounters as reports of detentions of Native people increase across the nation.
This situation has sparked outrage and calls for legal reform regarding immigration enforcement, with tribal leaders expressing deep concern over the implications for their communities and the rights of those affected.
In the backdrop of these developments, President Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy federal troops amid mounting civil unrest related to immigration policies. Minnesota's officials have indicated legal action should such measures arise.
