The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: Challenging Immigration Detentions in Minnesota
Feb 19, 2026
John Albanese, a Minneapolis attorney at Berger Montague who handles plaintiffs' and complex litigation, discusses a surge of habeas filings tied to massive immigration detentions in Minnesota. He describes how people are being swept up, how lawyers are mobilizing pro bono, courtroom pushback to government claims, and how judges and courts are adapting to the crisis.
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Daycare Cook Arrested During Rounds
- John Albanese described a cook at his daughter's daycare being arrested outside the school and detained by ICE.
- He said many detained people were shipped to Texas quickly, sometimes before lawyers could file habeas petitions.
Refugees Arrested At Adjustment Interviews
- He described 'Operation Paris' where refugees were arrested at adjustment interviews and taken to Texas.
- Lawyers had as little as 30 minutes to file habeas petitions before transfers occurred.
Build Local Referral Hubs Fast
- Use resettlement agencies and unions as referral sources to find detained clients quickly.
- Set up centralized intake hubs through legal aid to triage habeas petitions and match volunteer lawyers.