Minnesota Officials Face Federal Probe Over Immigration Enforcement Obstruction

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MINNEAPOLIS — The Justice Department has served six grand jury subpoenas to Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, as part of an investigation into allegations of obstruction of federal immigration enforcement. The investigation, which also targets Attorney General Keith Ellison, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, and officials in Ramsey and Hennepin counties, centers on public statements made by the officials that may have impeded federal law enforcement during a recent immigration operation in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Walz and Frey have described the probe as a 'bullying tactic' aimed at intimidating them for speaking out against federal immigration enforcement. The operation, known as Operation Metro Surge, has resulted in the arrest of over 3,000 individuals in the country illegally, according to the government. However, Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison has argued that the federal government is violating free speech and constitutional rights by conducting unprecedented sweeps. Ellison has also raised concerns about the training and conduct of armed federal officers. The investigation comes as the Trump administration seeks to block a lawsuit filed by Minnesota and its largest cities to halt or limit the enforcement action. The lawsuit, which was filed after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an immigration officer, alleges that the federal government is violating state and local laws. Experts say that federal law takes precedence over state law in matters of immigration enforcement, and that the president has the authority to allocate resources to states that cooperate with federal enforcement efforts. The controversy has sparked concerns about the treatment of U.S. citizens and immigrants during the enforcement operation. Advocates have expressed frustration that there is no way to verify the accuracy of the government's arrest numbers and descriptions of those in custody. In a separate development, U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez has ruled that federal officers cannot detain or use tear gas on peaceful protesters who are not obstructing authorities. The judge's ruling came after a lawsuit was filed alleging that federal officers had used excessive force against protesters during the immigration operation.