"It appears that in planning for Operation Metro Surge, the government failed to plan for the constitutional rights of its civil detainees." MINNESOTA, USA — In a scathing decision, a judge is setting new rules for how the federal government treats its detainees at the Whipple Federal Building. Since Operation Metro Surge began, people arrested have been taken to the federal building, often simply referred to as Whipple. KARE has reported on people who say they were shackled, did not have access to a phone and could not speak with an attorney. Detainees are at Whipple for days, but sometimes just hours, before being transferred to other detention facilities in Texas. The group Advocates for Human Rights filed a federal lawsuit against the federal government leadership over the conditions at Whipple. The lawsuit alleges that federal authorities are "erecting artificial barriers to access, and preventing many detainees from contacting and conferring with their attorneys." The plaintiffs also allege personnel at the Whipple Building "threatened or intimidated lawyers attempting to visit clients." While the lawsuit is ongoing, United States District Judge Nancy E. Brasel granted a temporary order, siding with the plaintiffs. Brasel wrote that before Operation Metro Surge began, there was faciliated attorney-clinet communication. Now, federal officials say they cannot use these rooms because of a lack of security functions. Brasel wrote, "The Court is underwhelmed by this evidence. The record shows that Whipple allowed in-person visits before Operation Metro Surge, and Defendants make no effort to explain why in-person visits suddenly strain their resources." "It appears that in planning for Operation Metro Surge, the government failed to plan for the constitutional rights of its civil detainees," Brasel wrote. "The government suggests—with minimal explanation and even less evidence—that doing so would result in 'chaos.' The Constitution does not permit the government to arrest thousands of individuals and then disregard their constitutional rights because it would be too challenging to honor those rights." The judge ordered the federal government to make multiple changes at Whipple. This includes ensuring all noncitizen detainees are provided with their A-number within an hour of arriving at Whipple, as well as being given a list of free legal resources in a language they understand. Detainees also must have access to a phone and for those calls to be confidential. Notably, Judge Brasel is ordering that detainees must not be transferred away from Whipple in the first 72 hours they're there. If they are transferred, they need to be told where they're being taken and given the ability to make a phone call before they leave. These orders are only temporary, though. They will remain in effect through Feb. 26. On Feb. 24, there will be a status conference for the lawsuit. But the point might be moot. Hours before the order was issued, Border Czar Tom Homan announced Operation Metro Surge would be coming to an end. Still, the orders will apply for the next two weeks for anyone else who does become detained and is taken to Whipple.