Federal court orders halt to abuses at Minneapolis ICE center linked to Kristi Noem

A federal court has ordered an immediate halt to constitutional violations at a Minneapolis immigration detention center linked to Governor Kristi Noem, after lawmakers and advocates documented conditions that lawyers say violated detainees' basic rights. The ruling, issued February 17, 2026, responds to reports from Rep. Kelly Morrison and others that detainees were being shackled for extended periods, given minimal food and denied essential medications and water.

The court's directive requires the facility to take immediate steps to address conditions that plaintiffs argued amounted to cruel and unusual treatment and violated due process. Court filings cited first-hand accounts and medical records alleging repeated denials of care and prolonged physical restraints. Legal advocates said the order aims to stop ongoing harms while the broader lawsuit proceeds.

The allegations and judicial response have intensified scrutiny of how immigration detention is managed in the Twin Cities and across the country. Public health experts warn that withholding water and medication and using restraints can cause acute medical crises for people with diabetes, hypertension, psychiatric conditions and other chronic illnesses. Dehydration and interrupted treatment increase the risk of hospitalization and long-term complications, and create added strains on local emergency services that may be called to respond.

Advocates say the case highlights systemic failures: limited medical staffing, inadequate oversight, and policies that prioritize security protocols over basic health and dignity. Immigrants and asylum seekers are disproportionately affected, they note, because detention often intersects with language barriers, limited access to legal counsel and precarious socio economic status that undermines their ability to advocate for care.

The facility's reported connection to Kristi Noem has also injected a political dimension into the legal battle. Advocates framed the link as emblematic of a wider pattern in which state-level political alliances and management decisions shape detention operations, sometimes at the expense of transparency and accountability. Local and national lawmakers are now calling for independent monitoring, medical evaluations for detainees and a reassessment of detention practices for medically vulnerable people.

The court order adds pressure on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce constitutional protections inside detention facilities and to cooperate with oversight. Legal experts said the decision could set a precedent for more aggressive judicial intervention in detention centers where courts find credible evidence of systemic neglect or abuse.

For community health providers, the ruling underscores the need for readiness to treat detainees released for medical reasons and to coordinate care for people who were subjected to deprivation. Nonprofit clinics and hospitals in Minneapolis and surrounding areas have historically served many immigrants and may face increased demand if the court orders releases or transfers of vulnerable individuals.

The legal case is likely to continue as advocates seek a permanent injunction and policy changes. In the near term, the court order provides an enforceable mechanism to stop the most severe alleged abuses and to compel documentation of corrective actions. Community leaders and public health officials say sustained oversight will be crucial to ensuring that constitutional protections translate into safe, humane conditions and timely medical care for people in federal custody.