President Donald Trump has publicly demanded that Minnesota state and local officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, fully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement by handing over criminal undocumented immigrants (often referred to by the administration as “criminal illegal aliens”) to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation.
This demand comes amid heightened tensions in early 2026, as the Trump administration has intensified mass immigration operations targeting individuals with criminal records in sanctuary jurisdictions like Minnesota.
The state and city have long maintained policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including not honoring ICE detainers or restricting local law enforcement from assisting in immigration enforcement.
Context of the Demand
The call escalated following recent ICE arrests in Minnesota, where federal agents have detained hundreds of individuals described by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as among the “worst of the worst”—including gang members (e.g., MS-13 affiliates), rapists, burglars, drug traffickers, fraud perpetrators, and others with serious criminal histories.
DHS and ICE statements emphasize that these operations aim to remove dangerous individuals from communities, with claims that crime has decreased in areas where similar actions have been taken (e.g., Chicago). Trump’s statements, shared via Truth Social and echoed by administration officials like Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, frame the issue as a choice between public safety and political obstruction: He has urged Walz, Frey, and other Democratic leaders to “hand over all Criminal Illegal Aliens” currently in state or local custody. Cooperate by allowing federal agents access to jails and assisting in arrests of wanted individuals. End sanctuary policies that shield undocumented immigrants from deportation. Trump has also called on Congress to pass legislation banning sanctuary cities nationwide, arguing that non-cooperation protects criminals over American citizens. Administration officials have highlighted Minnesota’s refusal to turn over individuals as contributing to chaos, with some posts noting that nearly 500 criminal aliens have allegedly been released back into communities rather than handed to ICE since Trump took office.
The demand intensified after a fatal shooting in Minneapolis involving federal agents (reported around January 24-25, 2026), where an individual (Alex Pretti, described in some reports as a U.S. citizen) was killed during an immigration-related operation or encounter.
This sparked protests in Minneapolis, with demonstrators calling for ICE withdrawal and an end to operations labeled as “terrorizing” communities. Governor Walz and others criticized the federal presence, while Trump and DHS blamed local sanctuary policies for forcing agents into more confrontational street-level enforcement rather than smooth jail transfers. Trump has warned that continued resistance could lead to escalated measures, though specifics vary in reports—from increased raids to broader federal pressure.
Some critics on X describe the demands as “hostage-style” or politically motivated (e.g., tied to voter rolls or fraud allegations), while supporters view it as necessary to “Make America Safe Again.” The situation remains fluid, with ongoing ICE operations in Minnesota, public protests, and dueling narratives: the administration portrays it as targeted removal of violent criminals, while opponents see it as overreach harming communities and escalating risks for all involved. This reflects the broader push in Trump’s second term to prioritize deportations of those with criminal convictions, clashing directly with blue-state sanctuary frameworks.
