In a significant enforcement operation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Garrison Gibson, a 37-year-old man from Liberia, was arrested in Minneapolis. His attorney, Marc Prokosch, has claimed that the arrest violated constitutional rights due to the absence of a proper warrant, as the agents only had an administrative warrant, which does not authorize forced entry into private residences. Gibson, who fled the Liberian civil war as a child, had been living in the U.S. under an order of supervision, complying with immigration check-ins. This raises questions about the necessity and legality of the aggressive tactics used during his arrest.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin noted that Gibson has a criminal history, but did not specify whether these were arrests, charges, or convictions. Court records indicate that his legal history consists mainly of minor infractions, with only one felony conviction from 2008 that was later dismissed. Following his arrest, Gibson was briefly transferred to Texas before being returned to Minnesota after legal intervention.

The operation has taken place amid heightened tensions following the shooting death of Renee Good by immigration agents, which has led to public protests and demands for accountability. Activists have expressed concern regarding the use of force by federal agents, including reports of agents using pepper spray against demonstrators during Gibson's arrest. Since the operation began in December, over 2,000 arrests have been made in Minnesota, prompting state and local officials to seek transparency from federal authorities regarding the use of force and the circumstances surrounding Good's death.

In response to the increased federal enforcement actions, Hwa Jeong Kim, Vice President of the St. Paul City Council, has urged residents to support individuals evading federal immigration enforcement. In a social media video, she reported that several individuals, including families, had been detained that day and characterized the situation as dire. Kim introduced a community initiative to assist those who may fear shopping due to the threat of enforcement actions and encouraged residents to document sightings of federal agents.

Critics have accused Kim of promoting interference with federal law enforcement, with some calling for her arrest for allegedly aiding undocumented individuals. This controversy follows ongoing legal disputes over sanctuary policies in Minnesota, where the U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit claiming that local regulations obstruct federal immigration enforcement.

Additionally, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration on behalf of individuals whose rights were reportedly violated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The lawsuit challenges policies that allow for racial profiling and unlawful detentions, particularly affecting Somali and Latino communities in Minnesota. A plaintiff, Mubashir Khalif Hussen, described an encounter with ICE agents who did not provide justification for his detention, highlighting broader civil rights concerns.

The ACLU has condemned the actions of ICE and CBP, asserting that such practices violate legal standards and instill fear within immigrant communities. This legal action is part of a larger context of escalating tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the U.S., particularly under the current administration, which has faced criticism for aggressive tactics and the militarization of immigration enforcement.