The U.S. justice department is investigating two prominent Minnesota officials over alleged attempts to impede federal immigration agents, in an escalation of the Trump's administration's clash with Democrats.
Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey are facing an inquiry over statements they have made about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to reports from CBS.
This comes amid growing unrest after the death of a Minneapolis woman, Renee Good, who was shot last week by an ICE agent. Good, 37, suffered multiple gunshot wounds, leading to nationwide protests.
Governor Walz responded, calling the investigation an authoritarian tactic and highlighting that the federal agent who shot Good is not being investigated. Frey has also demanded the removal of ICE from Minneapolis.
The inquiry is centered around federal laws that prohibit conspiracy to obstruct federal officers in their duties, as tensions rise over immigration enforcement methods.
Protests persisted in Minneapolis even after new details about Good’s death emerged. An incident report stated that Good appeared to have sustained several gunshot wounds, and she was pronounced dead while being transported to the hospital.
The Trump administration claimed that Good posed a threat to federal officers, yet local officials maintained she was merely a legal observer.
In response, President Trump condemned the protests and the actions of local leaders, asserting they had lost control of the situation. He mentioned that he would not invoke the Insurrection Act but would act if necessary.
Democratic lawmakers have rallied in Minnesota, condemning ICE’s actions as reckless and demanding changes to immigration enforcement practices.
