Minneapolis – A Liberian man arrested over the weekend after heavily armed immigration agents used a battering ram to force entry into his Minneapolis home had been complying with federal immigration requirements for years, according to his attorney. The arrest has intensified tensions in the city amid an aggressive immigration enforcement campaign and recent deadly encounters involving federal agents.
The case was first reported by Associated Press and centers on 37-year-old Garrison Gibson, whose attorney argues the raid violated constitutional protections.
Attorney Calls Arrest a “Blatant Constitutional Violation”
Garrison Gibson was arrested Sunday during what the Department of Homeland Security has described as its largest immigration enforcement operation ever. His attorney, Marc Prokosch, said the arrest was unlawful because agents entered Gibson’s home without a criminal warrant signed by a judge.
“This was an illegal search, absolutely,” Prokosch said, explaining that agents relied on an administrative warrant, which allows arrest but does not authorize forced entry into a private residence.
According to Prokosch, federal law requires a judicial warrant for such an action, making the battering-ram entry unconstitutional.
Gibson Had Been Living Under an Order of Supervision
Gibson fled Liberia’s civil war as a child and later received an order of removal from the United States, apparently tied to a 2008 drug conviction that was later dismissed by the courts. Despite that order, he remained in the country legally under an order of supervision, which required regular check-ins with immigration authorities.
Only days before his arrest, Gibson had reported to immigration offices for a routine check-in.
“He would have had another check-in in a couple of months,” Prokosch said. “So if he’s this dangerous person, then why are they letting him walk around?”
DHS Disputes Characterization of Gibson’s Criminal History
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, said Gibson has “a lengthy rap sheet” that includes robbery, drug possession with intent to sell, possession of a deadly weapon, malicious destruction and theft. However, DHS did not clarify whether those incidents resulted in arrests, charges, or convictions.
Court records reviewed in the case show Gibson’s history includes mostly traffic violations, minor drug arrests, and one felony conviction from 2008 that was later dismissed.
DHS did not respond to follow-up questions about whether the level of force used during the arrest was justified.
Rapid Transfer to Texas, Then Ordered Back to Minnesota
After his arrest, Gibson was flown by immigration authorities to Texas, where he was briefly held at a large detention camp on Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso. Prokosch filed a habeas corpus petition challenging the legality of the detention.
A judge subsequently ordered Gibson returned to Minnesota. He is now being held at an immigration detention facility in Albert Lea, Minnesota, according to ICE’s detainee locator. The courts have not yet ruled on the habeas petition.
Family Traumatized During Early-Morning Raid
Gibson’s wife, Teyana Gibson Brown, a nurse, was inside the home during the raid along with the couple’s 9-year-old child. Prokosch said she has been deeply traumatized by the experience.
“She was having a hard time just completing sentences because she’s just been so distraught,” he said.
Activists Clash With Agents During Raid
Immigration activists had been monitoring federal agents prior to Gibson’s arrest. During the operation, demonstrators banged drums, blew whistles, and honked car horns in an effort to disrupt the raid and alert neighbors.
Video captured at the scene shows agents pushing protesters and deploying pepper spray. Some residents poured into the streets as tensions escalated.
Minneapolis Still Reeling From Recent Fatal Shooting
The arrest comes as Minneapolis remains on edge following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, 37, who was killed by an immigration agent during a confrontation earlier this month. The incident sparked widespread protests and clashes between activists and authorities.
The Trump administration has defended the agent involved, claiming he acted in self-defense and that Good “weaponized” her vehicle. City and state officials have disputed that account, citing video evidence from the scene.
Local and state authorities are urging the public to submit videos and evidence as they pursue an independent investigation, after federal officials said they would not share information.
Enforcement Operation Expands Across Minnesota
According to the Department of Homeland Security, more than 2,000 immigration arrests have been made in Minnesota since the enforcement operation began in early December.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said over the weekend that additional federal agents will be sent to the state to protect immigration officers and continue enforcement efforts, signaling that the crackdown is expected to intensify in the weeks ahead.
