A federal judge in Minnesota ruled on Thursday that immigration agents violated the rights of Garrison Gibson, a Liberian man, during a raid that included a forced entry into his home. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan found that the agents, armed and using a battering ram, arrested Gibson without a judicial warrant or his consent, thus infringing upon his Fourth Amendment rights.
Judge Bryan expressed concern over the manner of the arrest, stating, To arrest him, Respondents forcibly entered Garrison G.'s home without his consent and without a judicial warrant. Gibson's attorney, Marc Prokosch, responded with enthusiasm to the ruling, having previously filed a habeas corpus petition regarding what he called a blatant constitutional violation.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reported over 2,500 arrests following an intensified immigration enforcement operation in the state since late November. Gibson, 37, had been detained at an immigration center after previously residing legally in the U.S. under supervision. According to court records, he fled Liberia during its prolonged civil conflict and had been ordered removed based on a drug conviction that was dismissed.
Now, in the wake of his detention and subsequent release, community members in the Twin Cities express mounting anxiety as immigration enforcement continues to escalate in the area. The social ramifications of such operations have left families reeling and stirred anger and fear within immigrant communities.
Following rising tensions marked by tragic incidents involving immigration enforcement, including a recent shooting involving an immigration officer, the actions of the DHS reflect broader national debates around immigration policy. Prokosch emphasized that, regardless of Gibson's past legal challenges, proper protocol must be observed during immigration enforcement to safeguard citizens' rights.
