The U.S. Justice Department is looking into whether Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have obstructed federal immigration enforcement with their public statements, as reported by sources familiar with the situation. The investigation is centered on a potential breach of a conspiracy statute, according to the same sources who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press due to lack of authorization to discuss the ongoing inquiry.
Initial coverage of the investigation was by CBS News. Responding to the news, Governor Walz criticized the scrutiny, drawing parallels to other political figures targeted by the justice system. He mentioned U.S. senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, along with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, in his statement. Mayor Frey asserted that the investigation was an attempt to intimidate him for defending Minneapolis against what he perceives as the chaos brought about by the current administration.
Despite these developments, Walz’s office stated they have not been officially informed about any investigation. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the principle of equality under the law in a social media post. The ongoing investigation coincides with an extensive immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and St. Paul, marked by over 2,500 arrests according to the Department of Homeland Security. The intensified enforcement actions followed the tragic shooting of Renee Good on January 7, prompting state and local authorities to stress the importance of peaceful protests.
Governor Walz has encouraged citizens to document interactions between ICE agents and the public to compile evidence for potential legal action against law enforcement wrongdoing. Both Walz and Frey have been vocal in their calls to end the ICE deployment, labeling it as a disruptive and risky operation putting civilians at risk. Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche has singled out Walz and Frey for the escalated tensions, expressing determination to halt any confrontations through all available means.
