Minneapolis is at the center of a dramatic federal investigation as the U.S. Department of Justice has opened a probe into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly trying to impede Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the state. The inquiry, which sources say involves possible conspiracy charges under federal obstruction laws, marks a stark escalation in tensions between local Democratic leaders and the federal government.
The dispute began to boil over after a week of unrest in the Minneapolis region. Federal authorities deployed nearly 3,000 ICE and Border Patrol officers to the Twin Cities to carry out arrests of people suspected of being in the country illegally and to investigate alleged fraud. That massive deployment, described by the Department of Homeland Security as the largest of its kind, unleashed fierce local criticism and widespread protests.
The Justice Department’s investigation focuses on public statements Walz and Frey made about the federal immigration operation. According to officials familiar with the matter, prosecutors are examining whether their words rose to the level of conspiring to prevent federal agents from doing their jobs through “force, intimidation or threats,” a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 372. This statute has historically been used in cases involving coordinated obstruction of federal officers, not merely political speech.
Walz and Frey have been outspoken critics of the federal surge. Both leaders, while urging protesters to remain peaceful, have accused federal agents of creating instability and undermining public safety with aggressive tactics. Frey described the situation as “not sustainable” and warned that local police were being pulled into conflicts with ICE agents on the streets, a claim that has resonated with many residents exhausted by the chaos.
The backlash was fueled further by the fatal shooting of Minnesota resident Renee Good by an ICE officer, an incident that shocked the community and sparked even larger demonstrations. Good’s death intensified calls from local leaders and activists for greater accountability in federal immigration enforcement and deepened the divide between state and national officials.
Federal officials have stayed largely quiet on details of the probe, declining to comment publicly. But Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has publicly criticized Walz and Frey, accusing them of encouraging actions that could amount to felony obstruction. Meanwhile, Walz has urged calm, telling Minnesotans not to “fan the flames of chaos,” while also condemning what he sees as politically driven enforcement that has hurt community trust.
As the investigation unfolds, no charges have been filed yet, and it remains uncertain how far the Justice Department will go. The situation underscores deep fractures in American politics over immigration policy and federalism, with local leaders caught between community outrage and federal authority. Many in Minneapolis – from elected officials to grassroots activists – are bracing for what comes next as the city remains tense and divided.
