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A federal judge on Friday night ordered the Department of Homeland Security to either return or replace lost property to released detainees unlawfully arrested during Operation Metro Surge.

U.S. District Judge John Tunheim stopped short of holding the government in contempt for refusing to return the property – including identification and work permits – to former detainees, saying it was “not the appropriate action yet.”

Tunheim ordered Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen and Homeland Security to provide the former detainees in the lawsuit against the federal government with instructions on how to file claims for their belongings by Saturday. Claimants have five days to submit claims, after which the government has 30 days to pay out.

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The government has five days to replace unreturned identification and work permits at no cost to claimants.

At a Thursday hearing, Rosen said the government would track down missing items or provide compensation.

Tunheim said in his Friday ruling he will levy contempt charges and daily civil fines if the government does not comply by a 2 p.m. April 6 hearing, though he did not specify which officials would have to pay civil fines.

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A judge ordered the Department of Homeland Security and Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen to either return lost property to released detainees unlawfully arrested during Operation Metro Surge or provide compensation.

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Judge orders feds to return ICE detainees' missing property within 30 days

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