Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks to reporters after he announced that he would not seek reelection, at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S. January 5, 2026. REUTERS/Tim Evans // Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks alongside St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter at a press conference to address reports of a planned federal operation targeting Somali immigrants, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. December 2, 2025. REUTERS/Tim Evans
(Minneapolis, MN) – The Department of Justice is putting the Democrats of the Midwest on notice of an investigation into their activities and comments regarding the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. The probe is specifically targeting Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over allegations that they conspired to impede on the activities of ICE agents. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said politicians need to be held accountable for their previous comments where they threatened to arrest ICE agents who were acting unlawfully.
Nearly 3,000 federal agents have been deployed to the twin cities of Minneapolis and St Paul since “Operation Metro Surge” began. Tensions reached new heights between federal officers and community activists after ICE agent Jonathon Ross shot and killed Renee Good. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also said Walz and Frey encouraged assault and obstruction of federal officers which she classified as a federal felony. Walz and Frey both claim the probe is an effort of intimidation by the Trump administration.
