Minnesota's chief federal judge says he's had enough.
In a three-page order issued late Monday, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz, an appointee of then President George W. Bush, ordered the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, to appear in court.
The judge also threatened to hold Lyons in contempt for what he says has been repeated defiance of his judicial orders in Minnesota. Schlitz says the court's patience is at an end and wants the acting director to explain himself personally.
Operation Metro Surge began December 1 and has flooded the courts with emergency lawsuits alleging illegal arrests and detainments.
The judges have agreed in nearly every case up until this point, and ordered the release of those immigrants.
Schiltz says the administration has been slow-walking or outright defying the court orders. So far, there's no comment from ICE.
Schlitz also took the administration to task over its handling of bond hearings for immigrants it has detained.
“This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision for dealing with the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that were sure to result,” the judge wrote.
The order comes a day after President Donald Trump order border czar Tom Homan to take over his administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota following the second death this month of person at the hands of an immigration law enforcement officer.
Messages were sent Tuesday to ICE and a DHS spokesperson seeking a response.
“Respondents have continually assured the Court that they recognize their obligation to comply with Court orders, and that they have taken steps to ensure that those orders will be honored going forward," Schlitz continued in the order. "Unfortunately, though, the violations continue.”
The judge said he recognizes that ordering the head of a federal agency to appear personally was extraordinary. “But the extent of ICE’s violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed,” Schlitz wrote.
Schlitz’s order said he would cancel Lyons’ appearance if the if the petitioner is released from custody.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.