Protestant and Catholic clergy are asking a federal judge to order Immigration and Customs Enforcement to allow pastoral visits to immigrants held at a Minneapolis detention facility. U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell will hear arguments Friday from attorneys representing Minnesota branches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the United Church of Christ, and a Catholic priest.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction requiring Department of Homeland Security officials to allow prompt in-person pastoral visits to all detainees at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis. The facility served as headquarters for the Trump administration's enforcement surge in Minnesota, which brought approximately 3,000 federal officers to the state during Operation Metro Surge.

Government attorneys plan to argue the request is partly moot because Operation Metro Surge officially ended on February 12. They say the number of new detentions has decreased, temporary visitor restrictions have been eased, and clergy visits have been allowed for over two weeks. In court filings, they stated that staff previously could not accommodate visitation because the building had been "both a hub of heightened ICE operations and the symbolic center of community unrest."

The lawsuit alleges that ICE unconstitutionally obstructed faith leaders from providing prayer, pastoral guidance, and spiritual comfort to detainees. Case filings detail several instances where clergy were refused access, including on Ash Wednesday, a significant day in Christian traditions. The restrictions are challenged as violations of both constitutional religious freedom and the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

ICE policy requires facilities holding detainees for more than 72 hours to have chaplains and dedicated worship spaces, with advance notice and background checks for visiting clergy. However, government officials contend the Whipple building is a short-term holding facility where most detainees are moved to other ICE facilities within 24 hours. A senior ICE official stated that visitor requests would be handled case-by-case going forward.

The case reflects broader national tensions over clergy access to immigration detention facilities during the current enforcement crackdown. Similar lawsuits have been filed in Chicago and Texas, with faith leaders particularly seeking access during holy seasons like Lent and Ramadan.