A federal judge in Minnesota has ordered the release of Garrison Gibson, a Liberian man, four days after immigration agents raided his home without legal consent. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan ruled that the agents violated Gibson’s Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful search and seizure by entering his property without a warrant.

“To arrest him, Respondents forcibly entered Garrison G.’s home without his consent and without a judicial warrant,” Judge Bryan stated, emphasizing the need for lawful procedures in immigration enforcement.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has intensified its immigration operations in Minnesota, claiming it is the largest operation of its kind. Since late November, over 2,500 arrests have been made, causing widespread fear among immigrant communities.

Gibson’s attorney, Marc Prokosch, expressed relief and noted that the arrest constitutes a serious violation of constitutional rights as no warranted justification was presented. Gibson's wife and their nine-year-old child were present during the chaotic raid, leaving them deeply shaken.

After the raid, Gibson was detained at an immigration facility in Albert Lea, Minnesota, following his initial hold at a larger camp in Texas. His legal status has been complex, having immigrated to the U.S. as a child refugee from the Liberian civil war. Despite a past conviction in 2008 for a drug-related offense that had since been dismissed, he was living under an order of supervision that required him to report regularly to immigration authorities.

In his ruling, Judge Bryan supported Gibson's claim that officials had failed to notify him properly about the revocation of his supervision order, which should have included adequate reasoning. Tricia McLaughlin from the Department of Homeland Security highlighted Gibson's lengthy criminal history, but court records primarily show the earlier felony alongside several minor offenses.

The incident has heightened tensions in the Twin Cities, where immigrant communities continue to face anxiety and anger following violent confrontations between immigration agents and residents. The local population remains vigilant as such encounters escalate amidst ongoing immigration enforcement actions.