The controversy erupted on January 7 when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Rose fatally shot U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good during an illegal immigration arrest in Minneapolis. The incident drew national attention, and on January 16, Minnesota's emergency management agency released 911 call records and dispatch logs that contradicted the federal government's version of events.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene in the calls: approximately 15 ICE agents opened fire on Good's vehicle after she allegedly refused to open the door, with shots hitting the windshield and leaving Good with four visible wounds—one to the head and two to the chest. Paramedics arrived within four minutes but pronounced her dead less than an hour later. Protests against excessive force erupted shortly after, with demonstrators clashing with federal agents and surrounding ICE personnel for over an hour.
On the same day, news emerged that the DOJ had launched a criminal investigation into Governor Tim Walz (a running mate of Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris) and Mayor Jacob Frey. Federal prosecutors accuse the officials of obstructing law enforcement through their public statements opposing the deployment of nearly 3,000 federal agents—including ICE officers and Border Patrol agents—to Minnesota, described by Reuters as the largest federal immigration enforcement operation to date.
Legal experts note that federal criminal investigations into local officials over policy statements are "extremely rare". DOJ officials have prepared subpoenas for Walz and Frey, though it remains unclear if they have been served.
In response, Walz condemned the probe as an "authoritarian tactic," accusing the Trump-led Republican administration of weaponizing the federal justice system to intimidate political opponents. Frey echoed the sentiment, calling it "obvious intimidation" for his opposition to federal actions that "brought chaos and danger" to Minneapolis.
While the DOJ declined to directly address their criticisms, Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on social media: "Reminding everyone in Minnesota that no one is above the law". Adding to tensions, former President Trump stated on social media that local officials had "completely lost control" of the situation, hinting at potential further federal action.
The standoff underscores deep partisan divides over immigration policy ahead of the 2024 presidential election, with Democratic-led states increasingly challenging federal enforcement strategies.
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