DOJ Investigates Whether Walz and Frey Impeded Federal Immigration Enforcement Amid Minneapolis Protests
The DOJ is investigating whether Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey impeded federal immigration enforcement amid ICE operations and protests following the Jan. 7 shooting of Renee Good.
Overview
The Justice Department opened an inquiry into whether Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey impeded federal immigration enforcement through public statements or actions during a large ICE operation.
Mayor Jacob Frey said he has not received a subpoena, insisted he and Walz "have done nothing wrong," and pledged to comply if formally notified while defending his critical remarks about ICE.
The probe follows weeks of ICE enforcement that led to over 2,500 arrests and the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good during an ICE operation, which triggered sustained protests and confrontations.
Gov. Walz placed the Minnesota National Guard on standby Jan. 17; state and local officials urged peaceful demonstrations while federal authorities said they planned to keep agents deployed.
Supporters of the probe say it enforces federal law; critics call it political intimidation and warn of First Amendment and local-federal tension, highlighting legal and constitutional stakes.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a politically charged, potentially retaliatory federal response—using editorial choices like highlighting the Bondi DOJ memo, prosecutor resignations, community outrage, and critical experts to suggest overreach—while treating administration defenses and on-the-record quotes as source content rather than editorial claims.
Sources (30)
FAQ
The DOJ is investigating whether Walz and Frey impeded federal immigration enforcement through public statements or actions during a large ICE operation in Minneapolis.
The protests were triggered by the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Renee Good, 37, by an ICE agent on January 7 during an ICE operation.
Nearly 3,000 ICE and Border Patrol agents have been deployed to Minneapolis, marking the largest immigration enforcement operation in DHS history, leading to over 2,500 arrests.
Subpoenas have been prepared for Gov. Walz and Mayor Frey as part of the inquiry, but it is unclear if they have been served; Frey states he has not received one.
Frey insists they have done nothing wrong, will comply if notified, and calls it intimidation; Walz criticizes it as a weaponized justice system targeting political opponents.
History
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