DOJ subpoenas Tim Walz, Jacob Frey and other Minnesota officials amid immigration probe

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: The US Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and several other state and local officials as part of a federal investigation into potential obstruction of immigration enforcement, according to a document reviewed by NBC News and a person familiar with the investigation.

The subpoenas were also sent to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, the office of St Paul Mayor Kaohly Her and two counties, according to the document and the person familiar with the probe.

Subpoenas seek records tied to immigration enforcement policies

The subpoenas, served earlier this week, seek documents and communications related to how Minnesota officials responded to and publicly criticized a major federal immigration operation conducted in the state under the Trump administration.

Frey's subpoena requires him to appear in the US District Court in Minneapolis on Feb 3.

The mayor accused the federal government of weaponizing its power to intimidate local leaders.

In a statement to NBC News, Frey said, "When the federal government weaponizes its power to try to intimidate local leaders for doing their jobs, every American should be concerned.”

“We shouldn’t have to live in a country where people fear that federal law enforcement will be used to play politics or crack down on local voices they disagree with," Frey added.

"In Minneapolis, we won’t be afraid. We know the difference between right and wrong, and, as Mayor, I’ll continue doing the job I was elected to do: keeping our community safe and standing up for our values," the Democratic mayor added.

Minnesota leaders and ICE clash

Minnesota officials have strongly criticized the federal action, calling it politically motivated and an attempt to intimidate state and local leaders who opposed the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the subpoena was "for records and documents, not for me personally."

"Everything about this is highly irregular, especially the fact that this comes shortly after my office sued the Trump Administration to challenge their illegal actions within Minnesota," the state attorney general said.

"I will not be intimidated, and I will not stop working to protect Minnesotans from Trump’s campaign of retaliation and revenge," he continued.

On the other hand, US Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino appeared with ICE leader Marcos Charles in a news briefing criticizing Minnesota leaders and defending the work of immigration officers.

"They're everyday people doing a very hard job, trying to enforce the immigration laws in an environment where local and state politicians have been spreading rhetoric that dehumanizes these officers and agents," Charles said.

Protesters in Minnesota have been protesting and lashing out against Immigration and Customs Enforcement after one of its agents shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good earlier this month.