Minnesota ICE Chief Counsel Steps Down as Immigration Litigation Overloads Courts

Jim Stolley, the longtime chief counsel for ICE in Minnesota, has retired as a flood of lawsuits tied to the state’s immigration crackdown overwhelms the federal court system. Judges have criticized ICE for ignoring court orders, and U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen says the civil division handling such cases is seriously understaffed. In January alone, more than 427 immigration lawsuits were filed, contributing to a backlog of about 3.8 million pending deportation cases mid-2025. Stolley’s departure comes amid broader strain on leadership as the system grapples with the surge in detainee-related litigation.