Liberian Man Released After Immigration Sweep Detention Confusion

A Liberian man who experienced a tumultuous week of arrests and releases following an aggressive immigration enforcement action in Minneapolis was freed again Friday, just hours after being detained during what was supposed to be a routine check-in with authorities.

Garrison Gibson, 37, was initially arrested last weekend when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents broke down his door with a battering ram during a controversial immigration sweep across the Twin Cities. The dramatic arrest, captured on video, was later ruled unlawful by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan on Thursday, leading to Gibson’s release.

However, Gibson was detained again Friday when he appeared at an immigration office for a scheduled appointment, only to be released hours later.

“In the words of my client, he said that somebody at ICE said they bleeped up and so they re-released him this afternoon and so he’s out of custody,” said attorney Marc Prokosch, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Gibson’s case highlights the confusion surrounding the ongoing immigration enforcement operation that has resulted in more than 2,500 arrests across Minneapolis and St. Paul, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The operation has grown increasingly confrontational since the fatal shooting of Renee Good on January 7.

Gibson, who fled civil war in Liberia as a child, had been ordered removed from the United States, apparently due to a 2008 drug conviction that was later dismissed. He had legally remained in the country under an order of supervision, which required regular meetings with immigration authorities — a requirement Prokosch says Gibson had been complying with.

In Thursday’s ruling, Judge Bryan determined that officials violated regulations by not providing Gibson sufficient notice that his supervision status had been revoked. Prokosch indicated that ICE has told him they are “now going through their proper channels” to properly handle the situation.

Indigenous Communities Taking Precautions

The immigration sweep has raised concerns beyond immigrant communities. Tribal leaders and Native American rights organizations are now advising anyone with a tribal ID to carry it when in public spaces to avoid potential detention by ICE agents.

Native Americans across the country have reported being stopped or questioned by immigration officials, prompting tribal leaders to request that members report such encounters.

Ben Barnes, chief of the Shawnee Tribe in Oklahoma and chair of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma, described these reports as “deeply concerning.” In response, organizers in Minneapolis have established application booths throughout the city to assist people who need tribal identification documents.

Democratic members of Congress held a local meeting Friday to hear accounts from residents who reported aggressive encounters with immigration agents. St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, who is Hmong American, said residents are carrying their passports as a precaution. She has received reports of ICE agents going door-to-door “asking where the Asian people live.” Thousands of Hmong people, primarily from Laos, have settled in the United States since the 1970s.

Details Emerge in Fatal Shooting

Minneapolis authorities have released police and fire dispatch logs and 911 call transcripts related to the fatal shooting of Renee Good, which has intensified the immigration enforcement activities. According to the records, firefighters discovered what appeared to be two gunshot wounds in Good’s right chest, one in her left forearm, and a possible gunshot wound on the left side of her head.

“They shot her, like, cause she wouldn’t open her car door,” one caller reported. “Point blank range in her car.”

Good, 37, was in her Honda Pilot SUV, which was partially blocking a street. Video showed an officer approaching her vehicle and demanding she open the door while grabbing the handle. When Good began to pull forward and turn the vehicle’s wheel to the right, another ICE officer, Jonathan Ross, drew his weapon and fired at close range, jumping back as the SUV moved past him. DHS officials maintain that the agent shot Good in self-defense.

Tensions Rise as Federal Officials Warn Against Protests

State officials have urged potential weekend protesters to avoid confrontations following President Trump’s threat to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to the mounting tensions.

“While peaceful expression is protected, any actions that harm people, destroy property or jeopardize public safety will not be tolerated,” said Commissioner Bob Jacobson of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

President Trump appeared to soften his stance on Friday, telling reporters outside the White House, “I don’t think there’s any reason right now to use it, but if I needed it, I’d use it.”

FBI Director Kash Patel announced that at least one person has been arrested for stealing property from an FBI vehicle in Minneapolis. The SUV was among several government vehicles vandalized Wednesday evening. Attorney General Pam Bondi said body armor and weapons were stolen during the incident, which occurred while agents were responding to a shooting during an immigration arrest.

Minnesota’s attorney general has indicated that the state would sue if the president moves forward with invoking the Insurrection Act, setting the stage for a potential legal showdown amid the ongoing immigration enforcement controversy.