DOJ Probes Walz and Frey on ICE Obstruction Claims

The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Officials say the probe centers on allegations that the two leaders conspired to block federal immigration agents from doing their work in the state. Subpoenas have gone out to both men as part of this effort, which picked up steam after a series of violent clashes in Minneapolis.

Tensions boiled over in recent weeks with two separate shootings involving ICE officers. The first happened on January 7, when 37-year-old Renee Good was killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in south Minneapolis. Reports show she suffered gunshot wounds to her chest, left arm, and possibly her head. Federal officials call it self-defense, saying Good tried to run over agents with her vehicle. Local leaders and witnesses push back, pointing to video that they say shows no immediate threat to the officers.

Just days later, on a Wednesday evening, another incident unfolded. ICE agents tried to arrest Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan man who entered the U.S. illegally in 2022. He had prior convictions for driving without a license and giving a false name to police. During a traffic stop, Sosa-Celis crashed his car and ran. As agents pursued, two other men—Alfredo Alejandro Ajorna and Gabriel Alejandro Hernandez-Ledezma—came out of a nearby apartment and attacked an ICE officer with a snow shovel and broom handle. The officer fired back, hitting Sosa-Celis in the leg.

Protests erupted after both events. Crowds gathered in Minneapolis, with some turning violent. Demonstrators clashed with federal agents, leading to charges of assault on law enforcement. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, now heading the Department of Homeland Security, pointed the finger at local leaders.

Background

This all stems from Operation Metro Surge, a major federal push against illegal immigration that started December 1 in the Twin Cities. Thousands of agents from ICE, Border Patrol, and other agencies flooded the area. The Trump administration calls it the biggest enforcement effort in U.S. history, aimed at removing criminals living in the country without papers. Data shows many targets lack violent records, but officials stress they go after serious offenders.

Minnesota has long resisted some federal immigration moves. State prisons say they always honor ICE detainers—requests to hold people for deportation. DHS disagrees, accusing the state of letting suspects go free before agents can pick them up. That dispute fueled the current standoff.

Protests grew after the Good shooting. Walz and Frey demanded ICE pull out. Walz posted on social media asking President Trump to end what he called an occupation and a campaign of retribution. Frey said the federal presence was intolerable and urged calm amid the chaos. ICE fired back, telling Walz to honor detainers and stop the resistance.

On Thursday, Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act. That old law lets the president send in troops to stop unrest if states can't handle it. He aimed the warning at Minnesota, saying local politicians must obey the law and stop agitators from attacking ICE. Walz's office confirmed he is talking with the White House, though it's unclear if he spoke directly to the president.

The federal push shook up the region. Senior prosecutors in Minnesota's U.S. Attorney's Office resigned en masse. Lawsuits piled up challenging the operation. St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her joined Walz and Frey in calling for ICE to leave. Daily protests kept the streets tense, with bystanders capturing videos of confrontations.

Key Details

Two U.S. officials confirmed the DOJ investigation to local reporters on Friday. They say Walz and Frey face scrutiny for obstructing federal law enforcement. That could mean anything from directing police not to cooperate to encouraging public resistance. Daniel Rosen from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota would not comment.

The Shootings

Renee Good's death remains under review. No full evidence release yet from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office. Bystander video shows agents approaching her stopped SUV. As she tried to drive off, Ross fired several shots. Her car hit a parked vehicle. DHS Secretary Noem said Good weaponized her car against agents. Local officials and Good's family say the video tells a different story—no agents hit, no clear danger.

In the second case, DHS named all involved. Sosa-Celis was the target after release from state custody without an ICE hold. The ambush on the agent came right as he closed in. Noem described it as an attempted murder of a federal officer.

"What we saw last night in Minneapolis was an attempted murder of federal law enforcement. Our officer was ambushed and attacked by three individuals who beat him with snow shovels and the handles of brooms. Fearing for his life, the officer fired a defensive shot," Noem said.

Protests and Resistance

After the shootings, crowds blocked streets and faced off with agents. Some threw objects; others formed human chains around targets. Frey called the situation not sustainable but blamed ICE conduct. Walz urged peaceful protest, saying chaos plays into Trump's hands.

DHS accuses local leaders of fostering organized pushback. They point to statements from Walz and Frey as green lights for interference. Federal agents report being followed, harassed, and pelted with items during arrests. One union rep noted workers passing TSA checks got detained anyway post-security.

What This Means

The DOJ probe raises the stakes in a fight over who controls law enforcement in Minnesota. If charges stick, Walz and Frey could face felony counts for impeding federal officers. That would mark a rare federal move against sitting state and city heads.

Protests show no sign of stopping. With Trump eyeing the Insurrection Act, troops could arrive soon if violence continues. DHS has no pullout plans; operations ramped up after the shootings. Walz stays in talks with Washington, but gaps remain on detainers and cooperation.

Local impacts hit hard. Businesses close during clashes. Residents report fear on both sides—some back ICE for safety, others see overreach. Lawsuits test if the surge breaks rules on state sovereignty. Resignations at the U.S. Attorney's Office signal deep rifts in federal ranks.

Union workers worry about jobs after background-checked employees face ICE. Data on targets shows mixed criminal histories, complicating the worst-of-the-worst narrative. Minnesota's corrections department insists it follows detainer rules, calling DHS claims false.

Frey pushes for de-escalation, telling protesters not to take the bait. Walz echoes calls for peace. Yet federal defiance grows. Noem vows to stay until the job is done. As subpoenas land, all eyes turn to what evidence DOJ uncovers on the obstruction claims.

This clash pits state rights against federal power. It tests how far immigration enforcement goes amid public fury. Minnesota remains a flashpoint, with more arrests, protests, and legal battles ahead.