Chicago – January 17, 2026
The U.S. Justice Department has launched an investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly conspiring to impede federal immigration enforcement through public statements. Sources familiar with the probe indicate it focuses on a federal conspiracy statute (18 U.S.C. § 372), amid nearly 3,000 ICE and Border Patrol agents deployed to Minneapolis—the largest such operation in DHS history—for arrests and fraud probes.
Tensions escalated after ICE officer fatally shot local resident Renee Good last week, sparking protests and clashes. Walz and Frey, both Democrats, criticized the “militarized” tactics as chaotic and unsafe, urging peaceful protests while calling for accountability. Frey dismissed the inquiry as intimidation, vowing to prioritize city safety; Walz decried it as authoritarian weaponization.
Federal officials, including AG Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, warn no one is above the law, accusing local rhetoric of inciting assaults on agents. Subpoenas are expected soon, raising First Amendment concerns over political speech.
