MINNESOTA – The U.S. Department of Justice has started an investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, raising tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic-run cities and states.
Federal officials say the two may have worked to slow or disrupt Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through public statements and local actions, while immigration enforcement ramps up across the Twin Cities.
The probe, first reported on January 16, 2026, focuses on whether Walz’s and Frey’s comments about the ICE operation crossed a legal line. Both have described the federal effort as chaotic, unsafe, and driven by politics. Sources familiar with the case told outlets including CBS News, CNN, and the Associated Press that investigators are reviewing possible violations tied to conspiring to impede federal officers.
No charges have been announced. As of late January 16, neither office said it had received formal notice, though reports say subpoenas are expected, and some accounts claim they have already gone out.
The investigation comes during Operation Metro Surge, which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has called the largest immigration enforcement action it has ever carried out. Since late 2025, nearly 3,000 federal agents have poured into the Minneapolis area. The operation targets undocumented residents, looks into alleged welfare fraud (with a focus on Minnesota’s Somali community), and includes raids that have drawn strong backlash.
Renee Nicole Good Shot Dead
Tensions grew after an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, during an encounter in early January 2026. DHS said the officer acted in self-defense and claimed Good tried to use her vehicle as a weapon. Local leaders and activists challenged that account, pointing to a video they say tells a different story.
Walz and Frey have repeatedly condemned the ICE deployment. Walz has called it a “federal invasion” and accused agents of using excessive force. Frey has publicly told ICE to “get out” of Minneapolis, saying the operation drains local police resources and heightens fear in many neighborhoods.
Both have urged people to protest peacefully, while also backing lawsuits with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison that claim constitutional violations, including First and Tenth Amendment issues.
After news of the DOJ probe, Walz said the administration is “weaponizing the justice system against political opponents,” calling it an “authoritarian tactic” and pointing to similar actions taken against other critics. Frey said the investigation looks like a blunt effort to scare him into silence for speaking up for residents and local law enforcement.
Preliminary injunction
Federal officials and other critics say the governor and mayor helped stir unrest. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche accused them of inflaming tensions around the raids. Blanche wrote on X that a “Minnesota insurrection” grew from their “encouraging violence against law enforcement,” and he said the administration would stop them “by whatever means necessary.”
That language has fueled claims that their words, along with policies seen as sanctuary-like (even though Minnesota disputes being a formal sanctuary state), have made ICE’s work harder.
Adding another layer, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on January 16, 2026, limiting how ICE can respond to demonstrators. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez, appointed under President Biden, ordered agents not to arrest, detain, or retaliate against people “engaging in peaceful and unobstructive protest activity,” including those who observe ICE operations.
The order, more than 80 pages long, also blocks the use of pepper spray, tear gas, and similar nonlethal tools on such people. It also limits vehicle stops unless agents have reasonable suspicion that someone is forcibly interfering.
What the Court Says Counts as “Peaceful” Protest
The injunction describes “peaceful and unobstructive” conduct as non-violent and non-threatening behavior that doesn’t forcibly block agents from doing their jobs. That includes gathering to speak or assemble, recording enforcement activity, and watching operations from a safe distance.
The judge also noted that following federal vehicles at an appropriate distance, a tactic sometimes used by community observers, can fall within protected activity. The ruling stresses that being present, criticizing ICE, or simply watching is not enough to justify arrest or force without probable cause of a crime or clear obstruction.
At the same time, the order does not protect violence or direct interference. Actions like assaulting officers, damaging property, or physically blocking enforcement are excluded. DHS pushed back on the ruling, saying it still allows officers to respond to “dangerous rioters,” and it emphasized that rioting and assault remain federal crimes.
The injunction follows similar court limits in other cities and comes from a lawsuit brought by protesters represented by the ACLU, who claim ICE used unconstitutional force, including arrests without cause and chemical irritants.
For demonstrators, the order offers short-term protection during an intense period of protests and raids. Still, it leaves room for conflict in fast-moving situations, where officers make quick calls under pressure while risking court penalties if they cross the line.
As protests continue and the DOJ investigation moves forward, the dispute underscores a widening fight over immigration enforcement, free speech, and policing tactics. Minnesota leaders say they’ll resist what they view as political retaliation, while the administration says it will enforce federal law “by whatever means necessary.”
