A federal judge in Minnesota found a Trump administration lawyer in civil contempt of court on Wednesday, a significant escalation between the judiciary and the executive branch amid a ballooning caseload triggered by President Trump’s immigration raids and novel interpretations of law.

According to the ruling, by Judge Laura M. Provinzino of Federal District Court in Minnesota, the government failed to return “identification documents” belonging to Rigoberto Soto Jimenez, a detained immigrant whom she had ordered to be released with all of his property returned. The judge ordered a $500 daily fine imposed on Matthew Isihara, an administration lawyer, for each day the documents are not returned, beginning on Friday.

In Minnesota and elsewhere, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been arresting thousands of immigrants who have lived in the United States for years after entering the country illegally.

“Judge Provinzino’s order is a lawless abuse of judicial power,” Daniel N. Rosen, the U.S. attorney for the District of Minnesota, said in a statement.

An online profile belonging to Mr. Isihara identified him as a military judge advocate now detailed as a special assistant U.S. attorney. The case docket indicates that the contempt ruling came after a 93-minute hearing.