Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued a forceful rebuke of the Trump administration following the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis man by federal immigration agents, calling the incident “sickening” and demanding an end to the enforcement operation in the state.
“I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning,” Walz wrote on social media. “This is sickening. The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.”
I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning. Minnesota has had it. This is sickening.
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) January 24, 2026
The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.
Walz’s remarks came after U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials said Border Patrol agents fired defensive shots at a man who approached them with a 9 mm semi‑automatic handgun and two magazines during a targeted operation in Minneapolis early Saturday. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, and protests erupted as demonstrators clashed with law enforcement.
#Internacional 🤬 Más de 6 agentes de ICE forcejearon con un hombre para someterlo, en calles de Mineápolis, Minesota, al no conseguirlo le disparan en repetidas ocasiones, la persona falleció en el lugar. pic.twitter.com/F1GrHGUnSE
— Callejero Noticias (@CallejeroPue) January 24, 2026
The Minnesota governor characterized the enforcement surge — which he described as involving “thousands” of federal agents — as escalating tensions and jeopardizing public safety. He spoke with the White House about the shooting and reiterated his long‑standing call for federal immigration authorities, including ICE and Customs and Border Protection, to end their operations in the state.
Walz’s statement reflects a broader clash between state and local officials in Minnesota and the federal government over immigration enforcement tactics. Just one day before the shooting, tens of thousands of Minnesotans marched in freezing temperatures to protest the heavy federal immigration presence, demanding that agents leave the city.
The governor’s comments align with other Democratic leaders in Minnesota who have criticized the Trump administration’s surge in immigration enforcement, particularly after another fatal shooting earlier this month involving an ICE agent. Critics argue that the deployment of federal agents has heightened tensions and led to unnecessary confrontations with residents.
Walz stopped short of detailing specific legal or legislative actions he would pursue but reiterated that Minnesota does not want the federal operation to continue. His remarks add to growing political pressure on the administration as investigations into the shooting continue and community protests persist across the Twin Cities. The governor’s call for withdrawal comes amid competing narratives over the role of federal immigration agents in local communities, with supporters of the enforcement surge citing law enforcement needs and critics warning of civil liberties concerns and escalating violence.
