Judge grants restraining order against Nobles County in ACLU lawsuit over unlawful immigrant arrests

Minneapolis, Minn – Today Minnesota District Court Judge Gregory Anderson issued a temporary restraining order and injunction against the Nobles County Sheriff in a class-action lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota on behalf of four named individuals.  The lawsuit alleges that Sheriff Kent Wilkening and Nobles County are violating Minnesota law by refusing to release people from custody when they attempt to post bond or should otherwise be released. Instead of releasing individuals, however, Sheriff Wilkening is re-arresting people and detaining them on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement without the authority to do so. The order requires Sheriff Wilkening to release people when they are eligible for release under Minnesota law and the Minnesota and U.S. Constitutions. 

 

The following quote can be attributed to ACLU-MN’s Executive Director John Gordon:

 

 

Judge Anderson specifically held in his order that “there is a substantial likelihood” that the Plaintiffs will win when the case comes to trial.  That trial is anticipated to occur early next spring.

 

 

Plaintiffs are represented by Ian Bratlie and Teresa Nelson from ACLU of Minnesota and Norm Pentelovitch of Anthony Ostlund Baer & Louwagie P.A.