The recent arrest of a Liberian man in Minneapolis, Garrison Gibson, has sparked significant debate regarding immigration enforcement tactics. His lawyer, Marc Prokosch, asserts that Gibson was regularly checking in with federal authorities for years, raising questions about the necessity and legality of the heavily armed raid on his home. This incident occurred amidst a larger immigration crackdown in Minnesota, which the Department of Homeland Security has described as its most extensive operation to date.
Prokosch has labeled the arrest a “blatant constitutional violation,” claiming that immigration agents lacked a proper criminal warrant to forcibly enter Gibson’s private residence. The attorney emphasized that agents presented only an administrative warrant, which permits an arrest but not a forced entry, a procedure that typically requires a judicial order.
Featured snippet paragraph: The arrest of Garrison Gibson in Minneapolis involved immigration agents using a battering ram to enter his home without a criminal warrant, according to his attorney. Gibson had been complying with regular check-ins with federal authorities prior to the raid.
The timing of Gibson’s arrest is particularly sensitive, following the recent fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman, by an immigration agent in the same city. This event triggered widespread protests and confrontations between activists and authorities, highlighting the escalating tensions surrounding immigration policies.
Gibson, who reportedly fled the Liberian civil war as a child, was initially ordered for removal from the U.S. This order was apparently linked to a 2008 drug conviction that was later dismissed by the courts. Despite this, he remained in the country legally under an order of supervision, which mandated periodic meetings with immigration officials.
According to his attorney, Gibson had recently met with immigration authorities at regional offices, the same location where enforcement raids have been conducted. “He would have had another check-in in a couple of months,” Prokosch stated, questioning the rationale behind apprehending a supposedly dangerous individual who was actively complying with supervision requirements.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, provided a different perspective, detailing Gibson’s “lengthy rap sheet” which allegedly includes charges of robbery, drug possession with intent to sell, possession of a deadly weapon, malicious destruction, and theft. However, it remained unclear whether these were arrests, charges, or convictions.
Court records, as cited by Prokosch, paint a different picture, primarily showing traffic violations, minor drug arrests, and an instance of fare evasion on public transport. The only felony on record appears to be the 2008 drug conviction, which was subsequently dismissed.
Following his arrest, Gibson was reportedly flown to Texas by immigration authorities. However, a habeas corpus petition filed by his attorney led to a judge’s order for his return to Minnesota, though the courts have yet to rule on the legality of his detention.
Gibson is currently held at an immigration detention center in Albert Lea, Minnesota, after an initial period at a large facility on the Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso, Texas, according to ICE’s detainee locator.
The raid itself was a traumatic experience for Gibson’s wife, Teyana Gibson Brown, a nurse who was in the home with their 9-year-old child. Prokosch described her as deeply shaken and having difficulty completing sentences due to distress.
Activists present during the raid attempted to disrupt the operation by banging drums, blowing whistles, and honking car horns, aiming to warn neighbors and interfere with the agents. Video footage from the scene captured agents pushing and pepper-spraying demonstrators.
The Twin Cities have become a focal point for President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement campaign, with the recent killing of Renee Good adding further fuel to the controversy. Federal authorities have defended the agent involved in Good’s death, citing self-defense and the alleged “weaponization” of her vehicle, while city and state officials are investigating the incident and urging the public to share evidence.
Since the beginning of December, over 2,000 immigration arrests have been made in Minnesota as part of this ongoing enforcement operation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has indicated that additional federal agents will be deployed to the state to support immigration officers and continue enforcement efforts.
