The US Justice Department has subpoenaed several top Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, as part of an investigation into whether they conspired to impede federal immigration enforcement. The subpoenas, issued on Tuesday, demand documents and communications related to immigration policies and any actions that may have hindered, doxxed, or surveilled immigration officers.
Mayor Frey condemned the subpoenas, stating that the federal government is weaponising its power to intimidate local leaders. He emphasised that Minneapolis will continue to uphold its values and keep the community safe. The St Paul mayor, Kaohly Her, also acknowledged receiving a subpoena, saying she was unfazed by the tactics. Attorney General Keith Ellison described the subpoenas as highly irregular and linked them to his recent lawsuit against the federal government over the surge of ICE agents in Minnesota.
The investigation stems from claims that officials obstructed federal agents, but legal experts have called the basis flimsy. Former US Attorney Barbara McQuade noted that impeding federal agents requires physical force, and speaking out against ICE deployment is not a crime. The subpoenas follow a federal judge's preliminary injunction barring ICE from certain tactics, including retaliation against peaceful protesters, which the Trump administration plans to appeal.
ICE has faced further scrutiny after agents detained a US citizen at his home in frigid temperatures, later releasing him. The Department of Homeland Security said the man matched the description of targets in a targeted operation. The controversy adds to tensions between state and federal authorities over immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
