By Micah Jonah
January 21, 2026
Offices of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St Paul have been subpoenaed by the United States Justice Department following their public opposition to the recent federal immigration enforcement surge in the Twin Cities.
The subpoenas, issued by a federal grand jury, request documents dating from the beginning of 2025 relating to cooperation or non cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Minneapolis Mayor, Jacob Frey confirmed that his office received one of the subpoenas, shared details publicly.
A Justice Department official said six state and local offices led by Democratic officials were targeted as part of an investigation into whether criticism of federal immigration actions could amount to criminal conduct.
U.S. Attorney, Pam Bondi said during a visit to Minnesota that no one is above the law and that law enforcement officers deserve safety, though she did not directly address the subpoenas.
The investigation follows weeks of large scale immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis and surrounding areas, where thousands of Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were deployed for deportation actions that local officials say were unprecedented and highly disruptive.
Residents have staged repeated protests, mostly peaceful, in response to heavily armed federal agents patrolling city streets in tactical gear. State and city leaders have warned that the aggressive operations are putting the public at risk and could provoke unnecessary confrontation.
Governor Walz said the enforcement campaign appeared designed to create tension and justify further escalation. While urging calm among residents, he encouraged citizens to record encounters between federal agents and the public to preserve evidence of any potential misconduct.
Federal officials have accused local leaders of encouraging interference with immigration operations, an allegation Walz has denied.
Public anger intensified after a federal agent fatally shot an American woman, Renee Good, during an enforcement operation. Protesters have also reported the use of tear gas, chemical irritants by federal officers.
The Department of Homeland Security acknowledged that agents recently forced entry into the home of a naturalized U.S. citizen, ChongLy Scott Thao, who was wrongly detained while officers were searching for two deportation targets. One of those individuals was later confirmed to already be in state prison at the time of the raid.
Legal experts note that under the U.S. Constitution, law enforcement agents are prohibited from entering private homes without a judicial warrant or making arrests without probable cause.
The subpoenas were issued shortly after it became public that the Justice Department had opened a criminal investigation into Walz, Frey and other officials who criticized the federal enforcement drive.
Walz said the justice system was being used to intimidate political opponents and pointed to other recent investigations involving senior officials and members of Congress as part of a broader pattern of political pressure.
Legal analysts have described it as highly unusual for criminal conspiracy cases to be based on public statements made by elected officials about government policy.
Minnesota Democrats have also filed lawsuits – seeking to halt what they describe as unconstitutional enforcement tactics. A federal judge recently issued an injunction barring immigration agents in the Minneapolis area from arresting or using crowd control measures against peaceful protesters or observers.
The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by residents who said their constitutional rights had been violated during enforcement actions.
Governor Walz said Minnesotans are focused on safety, peace rather than legal tactics aimed at intimidating public servants who are supporting their communities.
Mayor Frey said the federal government was attempting to frighten local leaders for doing their jobs and warned that the situation should concern all Americans.
