ICE Raid Filming Ban Sparks "Right to Record" Battle in Minnesota

A new legal fight in Minnesota is challenging the limits of filming in public. At the center is a recent policy from the state's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office. The policy bans people from using phones or cameras during its enforcement actions. Officials say this is for safety and to protect private information. But activists and civil rights groups strongly disagree. They call the ban an attempt to hide potential police misconduct. They argue that recording in public spaces is a protected First Amendment right. This right, they say, is a key tool for police accountability. "The public has a right to know what its government is doing," said a lawyer for the groups. "This policy directly threatens that right." The dispute began after ICE agents conducted several raids in Minneapolis. Witnesses reported that agents ordered them to stop recording. This led to the current lawsuit. The case could set a major legal precedent. It asks a clear question: can a government agency stop people from filming its work in public? For now, Minnesota has become a battleground. The outcome will help define the public's power to document authority.