State Lawsuits, Custody Deaths Put ICE Under Intensified Scrutiny

Americans’ long‑running unease with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is suddenly at center stage. States moved to challenge ICE’s expanded operations after a fatal shooting, escalating a national debate over how far enforcement should go and at what cost.

What Happened

On January 12, 2026, Minnesota and Illinois filed lawsuits seeking to halt what they describe as unconstitutional surges of federal immigration agents in their states. Minnesota’s case follows the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis by an ICE officer, an incident that sparked protests across the country. Federal officials defend the deployments as lawful public‑safety efforts; state and city leaders say the tactics are heavy‑handed and chill free speech. Minnesota and Illinois filed lawsuits on January 12, 2026, asking courts to curb the operations while the cases proceed.

The legal actions land amid worsening indicators inside the detention system. Reuters reported that four migrants died in ICE custody between January 3 and 9, and that at least 30 people died in custody during 2025 — the highest total in two decades. The administration has also ramped up detention: ICE reported detaining about 69,000 people on January 7, a figure expected to grow with added funding, even as officials insist care in custody meets or exceeds typical prison standards.

Why It Matters

For years, public opinion on deportations and interior enforcement has been divided, but the combination of a high‑profile shooting, rising detention numbers and a spate of in‑custody deaths has intensified scrutiny of ICE’s tactics. The state suits test where federal authority ends and constitutional protections for residents and protesters begin. They also raise practical questions about identification rules for agents, use‑of‑force thresholds, and whether immigration arrests should occur near sensitive places like schools and hospitals.

At stake, too, is how communities experience enforcement. Minnesota officials say the surge has disrupted daily life, contributed to school walkouts and strained local resources. Federal officials counter that stepped‑up operations target lawbreakers and are necessary to enforce immigration laws uniformly.

What’s Next

Minnesota is seeking a temporary restraining order, with a hearing expected soon. Illinois’ case is moving in parallel. Any early court orders could set the tone for how aggressively ICE proceeds in blue‑leaning jurisdictions while broader constitutional questions are litigated. Congress, which boosted enforcement funding last year, may also face renewed pressure to revisit detention oversight and standards as fatalities and crowd‑control tactics draw national attention.

Sources

• Four migrants die in US immigration custody over first 10 days of 2026 — Reuters (January 12, 2026)
• Minnesota, Illinois sue Trump administration to block immigration surges — Reuters (January 13, 2026)
• Minnesota and the Twin Cities sue the federal government to stop the immigration crackdown — Associated Press (January 12, 2026)
• Four ICE detainee deaths in four days spark alarm as arrests grow — The Washington Post (December 20, 2025)
• Attorney General Ellison and cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul sue to halt ICE surge into Minnesota — Office of the Minnesota Attorney General (January 12, 2026)