Tim Walz, Jacob Frey face DOJ probe over alleged efforts to obstruct ICE in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey are facing the heat from from the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The department is reportedly probing both politicians to find whether they worked together to disrupt the work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota, cites a report by CBS. 

The investigation is based on public remarks made by Walz and Frey about the large number of ICE officers and Border Patrol agents sent to the Minneapolis area in recent weeks.

The probe comes amid widespread anger in Minnesota about ICE's activities following the killing of American citizen Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent.

Walz, Frey and federal law violation

The inquiry reportedly began a day after Kristi Noem accused both leaders on X (formerly Twitter), “encouraging impeding and assault against our law enforcement which is a federal crime, a felony." 

Several media reports described this as a sharp escalation in tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic leadership.

The investigation is focused on a rarely used federal law, 18 USC 372.

This law makes it a crime for people to work together to stop federal officers from doing their duties by using force, threats or fear.

This provision has mostly been applied in cases where people acted together to stop officials in ways that included threats or violence

The DOJ probe stands out because it targets public criticism and rhetoric as potential "conspiracy" to obstruct federal immigration agents.

Normally, people can openly criticize federal policy without penalty.

Legal trouble only arises if prosecutors can demonstrate that Walz and Frey collaborated in a manner that encouraged or planned actions to obstruct law enforcement.

Walz and Frey's statements against ICE

Earlier this week, Frey had said the federal deployment had created serious problems. He warned that the situation could not continue. 

“We’re in a position right now where we have residents that are asking the very limited number of police officers that we have to fight ICE agents on the street,” the Minneapolis governor said.

“We cannot be at a place right now in America where we have two governmental entities that are literally fighting one another.”

On Thursday, January 15, Walz posted a message on X asking Minnesotans not to worsen the unrest. 

Walz said, "Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week, it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly."

"Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic. The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her," he had said.

Large Federal deployment in Minnesota

Nearly 3,000 federal immigration agents have been deployed to Minneapolis.

Officials said the operation is aimed at arresting people suspected of being in the country illegally and examining possible fraud cases in Minnesota.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has described the effort as its largest operation to date.

The expanded federal presence has drawn significant public response across the city.

Demonstrations and confrontations were reported, particularly after the death of Good. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as events unfold.