In a recent appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sharply criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for their handling of tensions surrounding a fatal shooting involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis.
The incident, which occurred during an ICE operation and resulted in the death of a woman, has sparked protests, disputes over the facts, and a clash between state and federal authorities. Minnesota officials, including Walz and Frey, have strongly disputed the federal account of events, condemned the shooting, and called for ICE to cease operations in the city.
Speaking on the program, Secretary Noem addressed comments made by Governor Walz and Mayor Frey regarding the situation on the ground in Minneapolis. She stated:
“If you look at what GovTimWalz has said, if you look at what MayorFrey has said… they’ve extremely politcized and innaporitaley talked about the situation on the ground in their city. They’ve inflamed the public. They’ve encouraged the kind of destruction and violence that we’ve seen… I would encourage them to grow up, get some maturity, act like people who are responsible, who want people to be safe, and the right thing be done.”
Noem’s remarks come amid heightened friction following the shooting, where federal officials have described the encounter as involving an attempt to weaponize a vehicle against ICE agents, while local leaders have rejected that narrative and accused federal authorities of blocking state access to evidence and inflaming tensions through their operations and statements.
The exchange highlights ongoing disagreements between the Trump administration and Democratic-led Minnesota officials over immigration enforcement, public safety, and the investigation into the incident. Noem’s comments urge Walz and Frey to adopt a more responsible approach focused on safety and de-escalation in response to the volatile situation in Minneapolis.
