In just 22 calendar days this month (January 5 to 26), some 412 habeas corpus cases have been filed in federal district court in Minnesota. These cases seek the release of illegal aliens held in federal custody by ICE. The habeas cases represent a solid majority (61 percent) of all civil cases filed so far in 2026.
They are frequently successful because federal judges don’t often wait to hear the other side of the story, as they are considered “emergency” motions. Judges summarily order the release of the alien and ICE is back to square one, with the alien at large.
One case filed late this afternoon bears the unfortunate designation of File No. 666. It’s captioned Petit Homme v. Noem et al.
This little man is named Lauik Petit Homme, origin unknown, and he wants out. Even though the case was first reported to the public at 5:15 this evening, the case file already included an order by the assigned judge (Kate Menendez, Biden appointee) barring the deportation of the subject.
Likewise, the most recent case filed today (26-cv-671, reported at 5:30 p.m.), already includes a similar order filed by a different judge.
The habeas petitions effectively render all of the work of ICE and Border Patrol to be meaningless. Judges rule on these “emergency” petitions after hearing only one side of the story. Adding injury to insult, you and I in the public are not allowed to see the petitions on which these quick decisions are made.
