📋 Alex Pretti's shooters on administrative leave

Courts Struggle To Keep Up with ICE

Elvis Joel Tipan Echeverria, a man from Ecuador with an open asylum case, and his 2-year-old daughter were sent to Texas after being detained by ICE – even though a federal judge ordered ICE to return the toddler to her home. Echeverria's daughter was returned to Minnesota on Friday, but several lawyers say the practices of quickly whisking detainees out of state and defying court orders are widespread. [MPR]

• Liam Conejo Ramos: The 5-year-old boy and his father, who were detained in Minneapolis last week, were also sent to a detention facility in Texas very quickly. According to Ramos's attorney, the family has an ongoing asylum case and is legally allowed to be in the United States. Liam and his father remain in the detention facility in Texas, and a judge has issued a court order preventing deportation or any further transfers until their court case plays out. [FOX9]
• Explain yourself: Judge Patrick Schiltz of the Federal District Court in Minnesota has ordered ICE acting director Todd Lyons to appear in court to explain why he should not be held in contempt for violating court orders. An order like this is extremely unusual, but Schiltz writes that "the extent of ICE’s violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary." [New York Times]

Administrative leave: The Border Patrol agents who were involved in the killing of Alex Pretti have been placed on administrative leave. We still do not know the identities of the agents involved nor when they were put on leave, but this is a departure from former Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino's previous statements that the agents were still working in the field. [CBS News]

The 'Pink Coat Lady': Stella Carlson, the woman who captured the closest video angle of Alex Pretti's killing, sat down for an interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN. She recounted her experience witnessing the shooting, reiterated that she never saw Pretti brandish his gun, and shared that federal investigators had yet to contact her for a statement as of the time of the interview on Tuesday. [CNN]

'We have lost the plot': Despite assertions from the Trump administration that part of DHS's operations in Minnesota are focused on fighting fraud, Operation Metro Surge has significantly set back fraud investigation and prosecution efforts. Several top prosecutors have resigned in protest, and according to former FBI agent and forensic accountant Vic Hartman, the administration is "doing all the wrong things" if their end goal is truly to prosecute fraudsters. [Star Tribune / 🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

International incident: Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs filed a protest with the U.S. government after federal agents attempted to enter the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis. Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Rep. Gregory Meeks issued a statement condemning the agent's action, saying it was unlawful and sets a "profoundly dangerous precedent" that puts American diplomats abroad at risk. [KSTP]

67-67: The Minnesota House of Representatives has returned to an even split of 67 Democrats and 67 Republicans after two DFL candidates cruised to substantial wins in special elections on Tuesday. [MPR]

Don't let bullies win: A man attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar when she was speaking at a town hall, spraying her with an unknown liquid. President Trump suggested without evidence that she "probably had herself sprayed," though several Republican lawmakers condemned the attack. Omar attempted to confront the man before he was subdued by security, and she decided to continue with the town hall after the incident, saying, "This small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work." [Washington Post]

Thursday, Jan 29

• 🖼️ Love Language: Behind the Beadwork 🆓 | Walker Art Center
• ☕ Hot Chocolate for Grown Ups | Norway House
• 🎉 Blackbird Revolt 9th Anniversary 🆓 | Blackbird Revolt
• 🌹 Pitch-A-Friend (Artist Night!) | Brühaven Craft Company
• 🤠 The Bronze Buckaroo Film & Songster Show | The Cedar Cultural Center
• 🔊 Twin Cities Loudspeaker Orchestra | The Southern Theater
• 😂 Twin Town Live: A Comedy Cabaret | Bryant Lake Bowl

Friday, Jan 30

• 🏮 Ice Lantern Making 🆓 | Graco Park
• 🎥 Tracing Sacred Steps | Main Cinema
• 💐 Preview Night at the Flower Show | Landscape Arboretum
• ⚽ “Fair Game” Book Launch | Open Book
• 🩰 Rejects Cohort | Mixed Blood Theatre
• 💍 'Til Death: A Marriage Musical | Art House North
• 🏒 Heated Rivalry: The Party | Union Rooftop

• Mobile Services Program Manager at Southside Harm Reduction Services | $60k - $64k per year
• Director of Quality & Impact at Opportunity Partners | $85k - $95k per year
• Program Manager at Minneapolis Avenues for Youth | $62k - $72k per year
• Senior Payroll Accountant at The Salvation Army Northern Division Headquarters | $70k per year
• Team Member at Mogi Bagel | $18 per hour