A Minnesota-based federal judge on Wednesday held a Justice Department attorney in civil contempt over an immigration case and fined him $500 per day for violating her order.
US District Judge Laura Provinzino, a Biden appointee, said the DOJ lawyer violated her orders in a habeas case related to the release of an ICE detainee’s papers.
DOJ lawyers in Minnesota are buried in immigration cases as leftist organizations fight to keep illegal aliens from being deported.
A JAG lawyer from the Department of War is assisting in immigration cases in the US Attorney’s Office due to case overload.
The judge held him in contempt after one of the habeas cases ‘fell through the cracks.’
BREAKING NEWS: U.S. District Court Judge Laura Provinzino has just found a government atty in CIVIL CONTEMPT of COURT for violations of her orders in a habeas case. Attorney cited is Matthew Isihara, a JAG atty from Dept. of War assisting in local US Attorney office @FOX9 (1/)
— Paul Blume (@PaulBlume_FOX9) February 18, 2026
According to Fox 9: Judge Provinzino had ordered a detained immigrant held by ICE in El Paso, Texas, be released in Minnesota with all of his identification papers. ICE released the man in Texas with none of his papers, forcing his attorney to find him a shelter for the night and flight back to Minnesota.
Judge Provinzino had ordered a detained immigrant held by ICE in El Paso, TX be released in Minnesota with all of his identification papers. ICE released the man in TX with none of his papers, forcing his attorney to find him a shelter for the night & flight back to MN (2/)
— Paul Blume (@PaulBlume_FOX9) February 18, 2026
The Judge said she is imposing civil contempt and fines to force the DOJ to comply with her court order to immediately return the immigration papers.
Judge said she is imposing CIVIL CONTEMPT “to force the government to comply with her court order” to immediately return immigrant’s papers. Gov’t attorney Matthew Isihara is responsible for $500 daily fine, every day the man does not have his papers starting tomorrow. (3/3)
— Paul Blume (@PaulBlume_FOX9) February 18, 2026
The DOJ lawyer, Matthew Isihara, apologized for allowing the order in this habeas case to “fall through the cracks.”
He blamed oversight on case overload and significant understaffing in the Minnesota US Attorney’s Office. He told the judge that he has picked up 130 habeas case in a month.
CONTEMPT FINDING: Matthew Isihara apologized for allowing the order in this habeas case to “fall through the cracks.” Blamed situation on case overload & significant understaffing in US Attorney’s office. Says he has picked up nearly 130 habeas cases in just last month. @FOX9
— Paul Blume (@PaulBlume_FOX9) February 18, 2026
Earlier this month, in a shocking moment in federal court, Julie Le, a lawyer in the US Attorney’s Office for Minnesota, had an emotional break down over immigration cases and asked the judge to hold her in contempt.
US District Judge Jerry Blackwell, a Biden appointee, held a hearing and demanded to know why several of his immigration orders were supposedly being ignored by the Trump Administration.
Julie Le repeatedly begged Judge Blackwell to hold her in contempt and jail her so she could get some sleep due to case overload.
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