The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a probe into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, thrusting them into the spotlight amid fiery protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis.
The investigation, as reported by CBS News, focuses on allegations that their public criticism of ICE may have hindered federal law enforcement efforts. It follows a surge of unrest in Minneapolis, including two separate shooting incidents involving federal agents—one fatal and one non-lethal. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other officials have tied the escalating tensions to the deployment of nearly 3,000 federal agents to the city.
According to the Daily Mail, the issue has sparked heated debate over the balance between local authority and federal power. While some see the investigation as a necessary check on officials overstepping their bounds, others view it as a political maneuver to silence dissent.
The unrest began intensifying last week with the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross during a protest. Witnesses reported that Good and her wife were filming as legal observers when she was shot three times after allegedly ignoring orders to exit her vehicle. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem quickly labeled the act as resembling domestic terrorism, defending the agent’s response as per training.
Just days later, on Wednesday night, another incident unfolded when an ICE agent shot a suspect in the leg during a targeted traffic stop of an unauthorized migrant from Venezuela. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated the agent “feared for his life and safety as he was ambushed by three individuals,” justifying the defensive shot. Two accomplices were arrested, and all parties involved were hospitalized or taken into custody.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described the ensuing protests as unlawful assemblies, with crowds throwing snowballs, fireworks, and ice at officers while chanting defiance. The use of tear gas and flash bangs by masked law enforcement only fueled the anger on the streets. Mayor Frey, at a late-night press conference, urged protesters to disperse, warning they were worsening the situation.
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social earlier Friday, blasting the situation in Minnesota as out of control and accusing “Troublemakers, Agitators, and Insurrectionists” of driving the unrest. His warning that he might be “forced to act” to resolve it “QUICKLY and EFFECTIVELY” hints at potential emergency measures. Such rhetoric suggests a hardline stance that could further inflame tensions.
Walz and Frey, meanwhile, have not backed down from criticizing ICE’s presence, with Frey famously telling agents to leave the city in blunt terms. Their statements, according to DHS officials like McLaughlin, are stoking resistance and contributing to a reported 1,300% spike in assaults on federal officers. This narrative paints local leaders as undermining law enforcement at a critical juncture.
Yet, Frey counters that the influx of federal agents—outnumbering local police nearly five to one—has disrupted safety rather than enhanced it. He’s argued that a significant portion of recent shootings in Minneapolis involve ICE, calling the situation intolerable. This perspective resonates with a community already on edge after Good’s death.
The DOJ investigation into Walz and Frey adds another layer of complexity, with Attorney General Pam Bondi posting on social media Friday night that “No one is above the law.” Her words signal a firm federal intent to hold local leaders accountable, but both Walz and Frey claim they’ve received no formal notice of the probe. This discrepancy raises questions about transparency and timing.
Walz has framed the investigation as part of a broader pattern of targeting political opponents, citing other high-profile figures under scrutiny. His defiance suggests a belief that the move is more about power than justice. But with public safety hanging in the balance, such claims risk appearing as a deflection to some.
Frey, too, sees intimidation behind the probe, vowing to prioritize city safety over federal pressure. The mayor’s insistence on protecting undocumented residents and local law enforcement from what he calls federal overreach aligns with a significant portion of public sentiment—polls show nearly half of Americans question ICE’s role. Yet, this stance could alienate those who see federal authority as non-negotiable.
The ripple effects of Minneapolis’s unrest are visible nationwide, with protests erupting from New York to California, including arrests in Austin and mass demonstrations in Los Angeles. Aggressive federal tactics, like tackling suspects in public and using chemical irritants on crowds, have drawn criticism and fueled violent encounters. A separate DHS watchdog probe into ICE’s hiring and training practices—amid claims of rushed vetting for 10,000 new agents—only deepens the controversy.
At its core, this story reflects a profound clash over immigration enforcement and local governance. While federal agents face undeniable risks, as evidenced by the Wednesday ambush, the heavy-handed response and tragic outcomes like Good’s death demand scrutiny. Minneapolis stands as a flashpoint for a larger national reckoning—one where policy, not posturing, must ultimately prevail.