Minneapolis, MN
Clergy allowed to visit Minneapolis ICE holding facility in latest ruling
A federal judge has mandated that clergy be granted access to minister to immigrants held at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, a facility central to the Trump administration’s enforcement surge in Minnesota. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell on Friday, marks a significant victory for religious freedom advocates.
Judge Blackwell granted an injunction sought by Minnesota branches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the United Church of Christ, and a Catholic priest who had initiated legal action against the Department of Homeland Security.
His decision ensures that clergy will be permitted in-person pastoral visits to all detainees within the building, which has been the site of frequent protests concerning the approximately 3,000 federal officers deployed to the state during the crackdown.
In his ruling, Blackwell stated that the plaintiffs had successfully demonstrated a strong likelihood of prevailing when the case reaches its final conclusion. He further asserted that restrictions on the religious freedom of clergy to minister to detainees constitute “irreparable harm.”
The judge has ordered both parties to convene within four business days to negotiate the specifics of providing access while addressing the government’s legitimate security concerns. A plan, or competing proposals if an agreement cannot be reached, must then be submitted within seven business days.
Bishop Jennifer Nagel of the Minneapolis Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, who was denied entry to Whipple on Ash Wednesday when she attempted to visit detainees, spoke to reporters after the hearing.
“The trauma that families are going through, and individuals are going through, at these times is exorbitant. And so to be able to meet people in those needs, that’s very much at the core, the heart and soul of what we do as ministers of all different traditions,” Nagel said.
The lawsuit itself alleges that the Whipple building, named after Minnesota’s first Episcopal bishop and a 19th-century human rights advocate, “now stands in stark contrast to its namesake’s legacy.”
It claims the facility has “become the epicenter of systematic deprivation of fundamental constitutional and legal rights by the federal government.”
Government attorneys countered by noting that Operation Metro Surge officially concluded on February 12. They also argued that the number of new detentions has since decreased, leading to an easing of temporary visitor restrictions, with clergy visits having been permitted for over two weeks.
However, Judge Blackwell sided with the plaintiffs’ attorneys, who contended that the issue remains pertinent because the government still lacks a formal plan outlining access requirements and the conditions under which clergy are admitted.
The request for access garnered broad support, including from Catholic and Episcopal bishops in Minnesota, other Christian and Jewish clergy, and the Minnesota Council of Churches. The courtroom was notably filled with clergy from various denominations, including Lutheran, United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist, and Jewish faiths.
Clergy nationwide have been advocating for greater access to immigration detention facilities, particularly during significant religious periods like Lent and Ramadan.
While ministering to detainees has long been a practice for faith leaders, it has become increasingly contentious amidst the current immigration enforcement efforts. Similar legal action was required last month for two Catholic priests and a nun to gain entry into an ICE facility in the Chicago suburb of Broadview on Ash Wednesday. Muslim and Christian clergy in Texas have also faced difficulties accessing large Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities.
Tauria Rich, a senior local ICE official overseeing Whipple, stated in a recent filing that visitors to the facility are rare and that any clergy requests are handled on a case-by-case basis.
She recounted one instance in early March where a clergy member attempted a visit but left because no detainees were present, asserting that the visit would have been allowed had detainees been there. ICE classifies the building as a short-term holding facility, distinguishing it from long-term detention centers where clergy visits are typically routine.
Access challenges at Whipple extend beyond clergy. Three members of Congress from Minnesota were initially denied entry when they sought to inspect the facility, and upon gaining access, they reported poor conditions. Attorneys have also faced obstacles; another federal judge last month ordered Homeland Security to provide new detainees at Whipple immediate access to legal counsel before their transfer elsewhere. That judge recently held a hearing to consider converting her temporary order into a permanent injunction, with a ruling still pending.
Minneapolis, MN
Heartbreak in Minneapolis: Ole Miss Falls to Minnesota 65-63 in Final Seconds – The Rebel Walk
MINNEAPOLIS — Ole Miss women’s basketball had the type of game expected against Minnesota in a NCAA Tournament Round of 32 game — on the opponent’s home court. As anticipated, Sunday’s contest was a low-scoring game with big momentum swings, decisive moments and a large, loud crowd. Sure enough, it came down to last second — the final .8 to be exact — and within mere inches of being an epic moment in Ole Miss’ history. Alas, it’ll go into Minnesota’s history books as a 65-63 victory.
First Half
With both teams being so strong on defense, the expectation that this game would be a defensive battle was indeed correct.
Both sides had a combined 14 turnovers in the first 20 minutes and each forced the other’s offense into several awkward possessions. Ole Miss had two fewer turnovers but spent most of the half trailing the Gophers.
Having star player Cotie McMahon on the sideline for most of the first quarter with two fouls didn’t help the Rebels’ offensive struggles. In the first half, she played just ten minutes of the 20. Half. That’s it.
After the game, Coach Yo talked about what it meant to have her out for what ended up being almost 20 minutes of the 40-minute game.
“I was in the locker room, just thinking about other star players on teams. I haven’t seen them foul out in a March Madness game. Paige, Caitlin…I just haven’t seen the best players get fouled out. From my point of view, the last call was incorrect We watched it 1500 times. One of the things I do understand is officials are human….I don’t think that is why we lost the game. I just know that Cotie is the leading scorer, the Newcomer of the Year, all the things — and she plays 20 minutes (of the game). It’s disappointing because these fans deserved more than that, the game deserves more than that. I just feel officiating as a whole needs to be looked at. I’m not just talking about this game..”
Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin
Minnesota ended the first quarter on a 15-6 run while McMahon was on the bench.
The Gophers shot 50% from the field in the first two quarters, including 4-for-6 on three-pointers. One of those threes was a halfcourt, buzzer-beater that gave them a five-point lead.
The second quarter was better for the Rebels, but even McMahon’s return to action couldn’t help fully close the gap. Several trips to the charity stripe (10-of-12) helped make the deficit just three points at halftime.
Second Half
McMahon’s foul trouble ended up being very costly.
Ole Miss had its chances in the final four minutes after McMahon fouled out of the game with the Rebels leading 59-54. She was a big reason, when in the game, Ole Miss played more like its usual “dictate and disrupt” style, going fast, forcing turnovers and getting to the foul line.The Gophers were the ones who looked out-of-sync. But once McMahon left, so did a key part of the Rebels’ offense.
Minnesota ended the game on an 11-4 run — yet only regained the lead back with 14.2 seconds remaining in the game.
Ole Miss had its chance and they nearly won the game that would have sent them to the Sweet 16.
Latasha Lattimore’s baseline drive for a layup was well drawn up and executed even better. However, it left 3.2 seconds on the clock which was more than enough time for the Gophers to inbound, dribble a few steps and drain the game-winning bucket.
Even then, Ole Miss wasn’t beaten. With 0.8 seconds on the clock, the Rebels drew up another play that gave Tianna Thompson a good look for a three. The shot, though, bounced off the front of the rim and the season comes to an end with the 65-63 loss.
Give Coach Yo’s Rebels credit. They never quit. When the regular season ended with a four-game losing streak and everyone had written them off, they dominated at the SEC Tournament, easily handling Gonzaga in the first round and come up just inches short of another Sweet 16 trip.
Team 51 didn’t achieve all of its goals, but it should be proud of the season it had and look towards a bright future for this program.
Ole Miss Leaders vs. Minnesota
- Points: Sira Thienou, 18
- Rebounds: Christeen Iwuala, 6
- Assists: Cotie McMahon, 4
Next Up
The NCAA transfer portal opens April 6 for 15 days. With seven seniors on the current roster, look for Coach Yo to be very active — and very successful — yet again. Of course the Rebels do have some very talented players — like sophomores Sira Thienou and Tianna Thompson — who will be anchors for Team 52.
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Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception. Email Evie at: Evie@TheRebelWalk.com
Minneapolis police respond to a fatal shooting. (FOX 9)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A shooting inside a Minneapolis apartment left a man dead and a teenager injured.
Fatal Minneapolis shooting
What we know:
Minneapolis police responded to the 2500 block of 17th Avenue South around 10:15 p.m. on Saturday.
Officers then found a dead 19-year-old man who had been shot.
Police also found a wounded 16-year-old boy who is expected to survive.
Investigators believe a fight among a group inside the apartment escalated to gunfire.
Police say the suspects fled before authorities arrived and no arrests have been announced.
What we don’t know:
Details on the suspects have not been shared.
What you can do:
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Minneapolis police by emailing policetips@minneapolismn.gov or calling 612-673-5845.
Anonymous tips can also be sent to CrimeStoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submiting a tip online to www.CrimeStoppersMN.org.
The Source: This story uses information shared by the Minneapolis Police Department.
Less than a week after a blizzard and subzero temperatures, the mercury officially soared to 77 degrees at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Saturday, breaking a record set 88 years ago in the Twin Cities.
On March 21, 1938, the recorded high was 76 degrees, according to the National Weather Service Twin Cities office.
“We went from a blizzard and lows below zero to near record warmth in just 6 days,” a KSTP meteorologist posted on X. “Now THAT is March Madness!”
The weather service said cooler temperatures are expected for the rest of the week and that other than a small chance the Twin Cities will see rain tonight, the rest of the week remains “quiet” weather-wise.
The area is looking at a possible high of 45 degrees on Sunday, a potential high of 55 on Monday, and a possible 60 degrees on Tuesday, the weather service said. Those days will most likely have partly cloudy skies, as well.
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