ICE faces lawsuits over warrantless arrests and observer intimidation

Legal challenges have been launched against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding its arrest tactics and the treatment of observers. In Maryland, a lawsuit filed by four citizens and the immigrant rights group We Are CASA seeks class action status and an injunction to prevent warrantless arrests. The plaintiffs allege that ICE has conducted over 5,000 illegal arrests since January 2025, utilizing aggressive tactics and racial profiling.

In a separate matter, a Minneapolis resident has raised concerns regarding the intimidation of individuals who document federal immigration activities. The observer reported tense exchanges with federal officers, the temporary revocation of his Global Entry status, and the criminal indictment of activists for following ICE vehicles. These incidents follow a January event in which federal officers fatally shot an observer, Alex Pretti.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has expressed support for limiting warrantless ICE arrests, stating that the legal requirements established by Congress are not optional.