Immigration Controversy: Liberian Man Detained Again After Judged Unlawful Arrest

Fri Jan 16 2026 22:37:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A Liberian man in Minnesota, Garrison Gibson, faces repeated detentions by federal agents following a judge's ruling against his initial arrest. The incident has sparked concerns regarding immigration practices and community safety.

Garrison Gibson, a Liberian immigrant in Minnesota, was scheduled to be released after a judge deemed his previous arrest unlawful. However, upon checking in at an immigration office, Gibson was re-detained by federal agents, leading to public outcry and highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policies in the region.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A Liberian immigrant, Garrison Gibson, has been taken back into custody just a day after a judge ruled his previous arrest unlawful. The judge's ruling came after federal agents forced their way into his home, lacking a judicial warrant for the arrest.

The dramatic sequence of events began with armed immigration officers using a battering ram last weekend to apprehend Gibson, which was recorded on camera. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan found the arrest violated legal protocols. Yet, chaos ensued when Gibson arrived for a scheduled check-in at an immigration office, leading to his re-arrest, according to attorney Marc Prokosch.

“We were there for a check-in and the original officer stated, ‘This looks good, I’ll be right back,’” Prokosch recounted. “Then about five officers emerged and decided to take him back into custody.”

Gibson's case is symptomatic of a broader crackdown in the Twin Cities, with over 2,500 arrests reported during recent immigration enforcement operations.

While Gibson holds legal status under an order of supervision, officials are now citing a past drug conviction from 2008, which was later dismissed, as grounds for his detention.

Federally, tribal leaders have expressed concern regarding the treatment of Native Americans during these operations, advising individuals carry identification to avoid potential confrontations with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Minneapolis organizers are working to assist tribal members in obtaining necessary IDs amid escalating tensions linked to immigration enforcement, especially after high-profile incidents and arrests.

As the situation unfolds, questions surrounding the methods and motivations of ICE continue, with community advocates urging for greater transparency and accountability in immigration enforcement.