Walz, Frey to be subpoenaed in ICE criminal probe
A federal grand jury has authorized subpoenas for Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in a criminal matter tied to Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the Twin Cities, according to documents and sources described by the Minnesota Reformer. The subpoenas reportedly seek testimony and records about state and city interactions with ICE during Operation Metro Surge and in the aftermath of the ICE killing of Renee Good, as federal prosecutors examine possible criminal conduct by federal agents and whether local officials impeded or concealed information. The move is highly unusual: sitting top state and city executives rarely receive grand jury subpoenas, and it intensifies an already bitter fight between the Walz administration and the Trump DOJ over fraud, immigration enforcement and alleged sanctuary policies. The article notes the subpoenas come as First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson and several other prosecutors have resigned in protest over political interference in surge‑related cases, and as House Republicans prepare impeachment articles against Walz. On social media, immigrant‑rights groups are hailing the subpoenas as long‑overdue scrutiny of ICE tactics, while partisan accounts are spinning them as evidence Walz and Frey themselves are under investigation, though nothing in the reporting indicates they are targets rather than witnesses at this stage.
📌 Key Facts
- A federal grand jury has approved subpoenas for Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in a criminal matter related to ICE operations in Minnesota.
- The subpoenas seek testimony and records about interactions with ICE during Operation Metro Surge and after the ICE shooting of Renee Good in south Minneapolis.
- The article situates the subpoenas amid resignations by top federal fraud prosecutors in Minnesota and escalating political conflict over immigration enforcement, fraud probes, and alleged sanctuary policies.
📊 Relevant Data
Operation Metro Surge is a DHS and ICE operation launched in December 2025 in Minnesota, resulting in over 2,400 arrests of individuals, many with criminal backgrounds including gang affiliations like Tren de Aragua.
2,400 have been arrested by immigration officials in Twin Cities ... — KARE 11
Renee Good, a 37-year-old American citizen and mother of three, was fatally shot by an ICE agent on January 7, 2026, in south Minneapolis during an encounter that lasted milliseconds, sparking protests and investigations.
Killing of Renee Good - Wikipedia — Wikipedia
Six federal prosecutors in Minnesota, including Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, resigned in January 2026 amid disputes over the DOJ's handling of the investigation into the ICE shooting of Renee Good and pressure to probe related fraud cases.
Six Prosecutors Quit Over Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim's ... — The New York Times
Federal fraud investigations in Minnesota have uncovered over $1 billion in schemes involving social services like child care and feeding programs, with significant involvement from Somali-run centers.
How Fraud Swamped Minnesota's Social Services System on Tim ... — The New York Times
Somali immigrants in Minnesota, numbering around 80,000 (about 1.4% of the state's population), are overrepresented in welfare fraud convictions, but noncitizens overall were underrepresented in such convictions in 2024.
Noncitizens Were Underrepresented in Welfare Fraud Convictions ... — Cato Institute
Per capita crime rates for Somali immigrants in Minnesota are higher than natives for certain crimes like fraud, but overall immigrant crime rates are lower than U.S.-born individuals nationally.
Yes, Somali Immigrants Commit More Crime Than Natives — City Journal
Minneapolis's sanctuary policies limit local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, potentially hindering federal immigration enforcement operations like Operation Metro Surge.
Supporting immigration enforcement, U.S. Attorney's office, ICE — Star Tribune
Minnesota's foreign-born population has grown to 524,000 in 2024 (about 9% of the state), with Somalis comprising a significant portion, driven by resettlement programs since the 1990s.
Somali Minnesotans generate approximately $8 billion in annual economic impact through labor, consumption, and business ownership, contributing $67 million in state and local taxes.
Somali women entrepreneurs rev up Minnesota's economy — Star Tribune
Venezuelan immigrants, including members of Tren de Aragua, have been targeted in Operation Metro Surge, with per capita crime comparisons showing higher involvement in gang-related activities compared to natives, linked to recent migration waves.
Under President Trump's leadership, ICE has arrested members of ... — ICE
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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