US appeals court lifts order curbing immigration agents' tactics against Minnesota protesters

Jan 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday lifted a lower court's order that had restrained federal officers from arresting or tear-gassing peaceful protesters in Minneapolis, where thousands of immigration control agents have been deployed over the wishes of state and local leaders.

A group of activists opposed to the deportation drive ordered by President Donald Trump in Minnesota's most populous city sued his administration in December, saying their constitutional rights to protest and observe the enforcement actions had been infringed.

Last Friday, U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez in Minnesota sided with the plaintiffs, issuing a preliminary injunction barring federal immigration agents from retaliating against individuals engaged in nonviolent, unobstructive protests.

Menendez's order explicitly prohibited federal agents from detaining or using pepper spray, tear gas or other crowd-control munitions against peaceful demonstrators or bystanders who were observing or recording immigration enforcement operations in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.