Kristi Noem claims Walz and Frey's 'irresponsible' rhetoric fueled second Minneapolis ICE shooting

WASHINGTON, DC: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday, January 15, blamed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for what she described as a second ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis, accusing them of encouraging unrest through their public statements.

Speaking hours after another violent confrontation involving federal agents, Noem said local leaders’ criticism of immigration enforcement had made the situation more dangerous.

Her comments came amid escalating protests, an expanded federal enforcement presence, and renewed threats from President Donald Trump to invoke the 'Insurrection Act'.

State leaders have rejected the administration’s characterization of events, calling federal actions excessive and destabilizing.

Kristi Noem reveals private call urging Tim Walz to cooperate

In an interview with FOX News, Noem argued that comments from Walz and Frey following recent immigration enforcement actions contributed directly to the latest incident involving an ICE agent.

“This kind of violence is perpetuated by what we hear the governor saying, what we hear the mayor in Minneapolis saying,” Noem said. “Their irresponsibility is extremely reckless.”

Noem said she had personally spoken with Walz and urged him to work with federal authorities rather than oppose them publicly.

“Governor Tim Walz has my phone number. I called him and talked to him and said, ‘Listen, you let your city burn down in 2020. Don’t do it again. President Trump wants to keep everyone safe. We’re enforcing federal law, we’re protecting every single American. Work with us,’” she said.

Noem also described Wednesday’s shooting, saying that an ICE agent acted out of fear for his life during what she characterized as a targeted enforcement operation.

“Our agents were doing what they are doing every day across the country: Targeted enforcement going after individuals breaking federal law,” she said.

She alleged that after a suspect attempted to flee, multiple individuals attacked the agent.

“As it was three-on-one the agent feared for his life and defensively had to take action,” Noem said, describing the use of “weapons and shovels and brooms.”

Walz and Frey have both criticized ICE operations in the wake of the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Good last week, saying federal tactics have heightened fear and unrest in their communities.

State pushback and rising tensions

The clash between federal and state leaders intensified on Wednesday night when Walz delivered a rare prime-time address accusing the Trump administration of imposing what he called an “occupation” of Minnesota.

The address followed the Department of Homeland Security’s announcement that 'Operation Metro Surge' had led to 2,500 arrests in the state since last month. 

“What’s happening in Minnesota right now defies belief,” Walz said. “The federal government is raining down chaos, disruption and trauma upon our communities.”

Trump responded on Thursday by threatening to invoke the 'Insurrection Act' if Minnesota leaders did not curb protests.

“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of ICE, who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT,” he wrote on social media.

Noem later confirmed she had discussed the possibility with the president and said that DHS had no plans to withdraw from Minnesota.

Meanwhile, state and city attorneys were pursuing a federal lawsuit seeking to halt ICE operations, though a judge had so far declined to issue an emergency restraining order.