On Wednesday, January 28, U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim ruled against the Trump administration’s controversial operation that had seen Somali refugees arrested from their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods under the guise of “re-vetting.”
The judge ordered the immediate release of all detainees and barred federal agencies from continuing the operation.
The enforcement exercise, dubbed “Operation Parris,” targeted refugees who had already undergone extensive screening before being admitted into the United States.
Government officials claimed the operation was meant to conduct fresh background checks, but human rights groups and lawyers argued it was an unlawful and discriminatory campaign aimed at immigrant communities, particularly Somalis.
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, many of whom fled civil war, persecution, and insecurity in their home country.
For decades, the community has played a major role in the state’s economy, running small businesses, working in healthcare and transport, and contributing to civic life.
However, in recent weeks, that sense of stability was shattered.
According to court filings and witness accounts, plainclothes federal officers visited homes posing as neighbors, delivery workers, or concerned motorists.
Once refugees stepped outside, they were arrested and taken away without warning. In some cases, family members said detainees were not informed of the reasons for their arrest or where they were being taken.
One Somali man told lawyers that he was lured outside his house after being told his car had been hit.
“When I went to check, armed men surrounded me and placed me under arrest,” he said.
“I escaped my country to avoid state persecution. I never imagined it would follow me here.”
His arrest left his family traumatized. His wife reportedly became too afraid to return home, choosing instead to sleep at friends’ houses, worried that officers would return to arrest her as well.
Legal advocates revealed that some detainees were transported thousands of kilometers away to detention facilities in Texas.
In several cases, individuals were later released without identification documents, money, or clear instructions on how to return home.
Judge Tunheim, in his ruling, said the court could not ignore the “credible stories of terror, psychological trauma, and irreparable harm” experienced by the refugees.
He ruled that the government’s actions likely violated constitutional protections and refugee law.
“The sudden arrests, deceptive tactics, and forced transfers described in this case raise serious legal and humanitarian concerns,” the judge stated, adding that the harm caused could not be undone even if the detainees were later released.
The ruling followed the filing of hundreds of habeas corpus petitions challenging individual detentions.
Lawyers argued that refugees who had already been granted legal status could not be re-arrested without due process or specific evidence of wrongdoing.
Human rights organizations welcomed the court’s decision, calling it a significant victory for refugee rights.
“This operation represented an unprecedented assault on people who followed the law and rebuilt their lives here,” said Michele Garnett McKenzie of The Advocates for Human Rights.
“The court has sent a clear message that fear and deception have no place in immigration enforcement.”
Tensions in Minnesota had risen sharply during the operation. Community members staged protests, while some American residents physically blocked immigration officers from entering Somali-owned businesses. Videos shared online showed crowds chanting and demanding the release of detainees.
The situation worsened following reports that Alex Pretti, a resident of Somali descent, died during an encounter with federal officers enforcing immigration orders.
While investigations into the incident are ongoing, the death further fueled outrage and fear within immigrant communities.
Despite the judge’s ruling, the U.S. government had not issued an official statement by Thursday morning. Immigration authorities are expected to appeal the decision or seek alternative legal routes to continue parts of the vetting process.
For now, however, Somali families across Minnesota say the ruling has brought a sense of relief after weeks of anxiety.
“We were afraid to answer the door,” said a community elder in Minneapolis.
“Children were afraid their parents would disappear. This decision has given us hope again.”
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