The commander at large of the U.S. Border Patrol defended the actions of federal agents in Minnesota as “born of necessity,” calling immigration enforcement here more difficult than in other states.
At a Twin Cities news conference on Jan. 20, Commander Greg Bovino said that activists pushing back against ICE agents have “excellent communications” and that lack of support from local elected officials including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have added to the challenges.
Walz, Frey and several other Minnesota officials have been subpoenaed as part of the federal government’s investigation into whether local leaders impeded immigration operations with their public statements.
The DOJ subpoenaed the offices of Walz, Frey, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her. The DOJ investigation marks a dramatic escalation in the standoff between federal and local officials after the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Good by an ICE agent earlier this month.
Ellison has sued the federal government in an attempt to end Operation Metro Surge, the massive immigration operation in Minnesota.
Here’s what else you need to know:
- The Department of Justice is investigating the protest that disrupted a church service in St. Paul on Sunday. President Donald Trump called Tuesday for the protesters to be jailed.
- Church protest organizers said the demonstration was justified to call attention to David Easterwood, a pastor at the church who they say also works as a local ICE official.
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said a recent court order limiting ICE tactics in Minnesota “didn’t change anything.”
- The DOJ says it is not investigating ICE agent Jonathan Ross who fatally shot Renee Good. On Jan. 20, an ICE official said Ross was “at home recovering.”
- About 1,500 active-duty Army paratroopers have been put on alert for a possible deployment to Minnesota.
We’re following reports of individual incidents, as well as providing broader context and stories about the enforcement effort. Email tips to whistleblower@startribune.com.
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