Pam Bondi presses Walz to ‘restore the rule of law’ in Minnesota, reports say

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Attorney General Pam Bondi has warned Minnesota Gov Tim Walz, to “restore the rule of law” after a second fatal shooting involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, escalating tensions over federal enforcement operations on Saturday.

Bondi’s letter marks a sharp escalation in the standoff between the Trump administration and Minnesota’s Democratic leadership, as scrutiny grows over immigration enforcement, public safety and state compliance with federal policy.

Pam Bondi presses Tim Walz to back ICE

In a letter to Governor Tim Walz obtained by multiple outlets, Pam Bondi accused Minnesota’s leadership of failing to maintain order and amid protests over federal immigration enforcement and urged cooperation with federal authorities.

“The state of Minnesota has refused to enforce the law and the consequences are heartbreaking”, she wrote.

Bondi added that “Americans are watching politicians ignore federal immigration law” and urged for a "change".

“You and your office must restore the rule of law, support ICE officers and bring an end to the chaos in Minnesota”, Bondi wrote.

“Fortunately, there are common sense solutions to these problems that I hope we can accomplish together.”

The letter was sent as protests and confrontations with federal agents have continued in Minneapolis, after successive shootings involving immigration officers, igniting national controversy over federal-state relations and public safety.

Pam Bondi alleges violence against agents

Bondi, in a strongly worded letter, condemned the hate rhetoric directed at federal agents. 

In the letter, Bondi wrote, “violence against ICE officers and agents has increased approximately 1300 percent.”

“Vehicular attacks against ICE officers has increased 3200%,” Bondi added.

Referring to the church protest, she wrote, “violence against our officers and violation of our religious liberties cannot be allowed to continue”.

Later, in a post on X, Bondi vowed to “advance action on every front” and “ensure accountability.”

Welfare fraud, sanctuary policies and voter rolls in focus

Beyond law enforcement support, Bondi outlined specific demands she said addressed systemic failures in the state.

She called on Walz to share Minnesota’s welfare program data with federal authorities to help investigate fraud and improve oversight.

Bondi also urged the state to repeal so-called sanctuary policies and allow with Immigration and Customs Enforcement she demanded the Department of Justice to be granted access to Minnesota's voter rolls to verify compliance with federal law.

According to the letter, the DOJ would review those records “to confirm that Minnesota’s voter registration practices comply with federal law.”

“I am confident that these simple steps will help bring back law and order to Minnesota and improve the lives of Americans,” Bondi wrote.

Second fatal shooting deepens political fault lines

Bondi’s letter came the same day another man was fatally shot in Minneapolis during an encounter with federal law enforcement. 

According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, Alex Jeffrey Pretti was shot multiple times before being transported to a hospital.

Details surrounding the incident remain under investigation, but the shooting further inflamed tensions already running high in the state.

Minnesota has been under national scrutiny for weeks following the earlier fatal shooting of Renee Good, who was killed by an ICE officer in early January.