Minnesota Governor Tim Walz addressed reporters at a press conference on January 7, 2026, following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis earlier that day. The incident occurred during ongoing federal immigration enforcement operations in the city.
Speaking from the State Emergency Operations Center in Blaine, Walz described the shooting as deeply troubling.
“This was so preventable. This was so unnecessary,” Walz said. “A woman is dead in her car for no reason whatsoever.”
He directly addressed President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, stating, “We do not need any further help from the federal government. You’ve done enough.”
Walz announced that he had issued a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard for potential deployment. He emphasized the local nature of these forces, noting, “These National Guard troops are our National Guard troops. They’re teachers in your community. They’re business owners. They’re construction professionals. They are Minnesotans.”
The governor stressed that the state would handle its own affairs, adding, “Minnesota will not allow our community to be used as a prop in a national political fight. We will not take the bait.”
Walz’s remarks come amid heightened tensions surrounding the federal ICE operations in Minneapolis, which have been part of a broader immigration enforcement effort.
