Jim Stolley, the longtime chief counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota, has retired after 31 years with the agency, as legal challenges involving ICE operations in the state intensify.
Anti-ICE activists display signs during a protest at the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Portland. (Getty Images via AFP)According to The New York Times, Stolley’s departure comes amid mounting pressure on Minnesota’s immigration and federal courts, where judges are handling a wave of cases linked to stepped-up enforcement activity.
Limited clarity on retirementStolley resigned earlier this week but has not publicly explained his decision. He did not respond to media requests for comment.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the move on Saturday local time. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said Stolley retired after more than three decades with the immigration agency.
Enforcement push fuels court backlogStolley’s retirement follows the December rollout of Operation Metro Surge, which marked a sharp increase in ICE activity across Minnesota.
Since the operation began, the enforcement action has led to a flood of legal filings, with hundreds of immigrants contesting deportation orders or challenging the conditions of their arrest and detention, the Times reported.
Also Read: ICE Going Door-to-door? Learn what to do and your rights here
The volume of cases has created delays and compliance issues, with government attorneys struggling to meet court deadlines and respond to judicial orders in a timely manner.
Judges expressed concern publiclyTensions erupted in federal court last week when an ICE attorney admitted the workload had become overwhelming.
Public Advocate Julie T. “Fixing a system, a broken system, I don’t have a magic button to do that,” Lay told the court. He bluntly added, “The system is bad. This job is bad.”
Also Read: Zohran Mamdani Moves to ‘Trump-Proof’ New York Amid Aggressive ICE Operation
U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz supported that concern in a recent ruling, writing that “ICE probably violated more court orders in January 2026 than any federal agency has violated in their entire existence.”
Minnesota’s situation is not alone in its case of judicial pushback. Courts in Oregon and Pennsylvania have recently issued rulings curbing aspects of ICE’s authority, particularly around warrantless or coercive arrests.
