A Woodbury man says he was detained by ICE agents for more than nine hours because he followed them, marking a new battle over First Amendment rights.
The encounter began in a grocery store parking lot and escalated after agents warned Ecklund he would face arrest if he continued to follow them. During a third interaction, Ecklund alleges agents reached into his car, placed him in a headlock, and threw him to the ground. He later displayed a black eye and facial injuries from the confrontation.
Ecklund was held at a detention facility for nine hours but never formally charged. His wife, Tamara Ecklund, emphasized the importance of having legal representation to secure his release.
Constitutional scholars assert that following and recording law enforcement are protected under the First Amendment. And just last week, a federal district judge found a Trump administration policy unconstitutional for considering recording as “unlawful civil unrest”.
ICE argued in a Minnesota court case Tuesday that following them is illegal, but the judge has yet to rule on the matter. ICE has not provided a response regarding Ecklund’s detainment or any potential policy changes.