Minnesota Governor Condemns ICE Presence, Urges Peaceful Protests

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has condemned the ongoing presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the state, urging residents to protest peacefully in response to recent events. During an address on Wednesday, Walz criticized President Donald Trump and his administration, describing the increased ICE enforcement as a "campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota."

The governor's remarks come in the wake of the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7 in south Minneapolis. Good, a mother of three, was shot during an ICE operation, an incident that has sparked widespread protests throughout the Twin Cities. Federal officials have defended the shooting as an act of self-defense, a claim disputed by local authorities, including Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

Walz also criticized the Justice Department for excluding the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension from its investigation into Good's death and for initiating an investigation into Good and her family. He suggested that these actions contributed to the resignation of several federal prosecutors, including Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson.

In response to Walz's comments, Minnesota Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth, a Republican candidate for governor, issued a statement criticizing the governor's approach. Demuth stated that Walz should have coordinated with ICE to honor detainers and keep criminals off the streets, instead of addressing the public to appease activists.