2,400 Federal Agents STORM Minneapolis

January 15, 2026

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Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino publicly blasted Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for endangering public safety by obstructing federal immigration enforcement and inciting violent protests against ICE operations.

Story Highlights

CBP Commander accuses Walz and Frey of having “blood on their hands” for releasing criminal aliens and inciting anti-ICE violence
DHS deploys over 2,400 federal agents to Minneapolis area, outnumbering local police forces in unprecedented operation
Federal officials demand compliance with 1,360+ criminal alien detainers after alleging 470 dangerous criminals were released
Minnesota officials file federal lawsuit claiming Trump administration’s immigration surge violates constitutional rights

Federal Commander Exposes Local Obstruction

Commander Gregory Bovino delivered a scathing rebuke of Minnesota’s Democratic leadership during a CBS interview, directly blaming Governor Walz and Mayor Frey for escalating violence during Operation Metro Surge. Bovino accused the local officials of having “more blood on their hands” for their sanctuary policies and inflammatory rhetoric that he claims incited protesters to attack federal agents. The commander defended the deployment of over 2,400 DHS agents to the Twin Cities, emphasizing their extensive training and eight months of operational planning despite facing organized resistance from local governments.

CBP Commander Shines Spotlight on Walz and Frey, Minneapolis Operation As Anti-ICE Violence Continueshttps://t.co/X3tVFBz0Wt

— RedState Updates (@RedStateUpdates) January 12, 2026

DHS Demands Action on Criminal Alien Releases

The Department of Homeland Security revealed alarming statistics showing Minnesota authorities have allegedly released 470 criminal aliens despite federal detainer requests for over 1,360 individuals in custody. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin directly confronted Walz and Frey’s administrations, demanding immediate compliance with ICE detainers to prevent dangerous criminals from returning to communities. The federal agency reported successful arrests of approximately 12 murderers who had previously been ordered deported, highlighting the life-threatening consequences of local non-cooperation with immigration enforcement.

Sanctuary Policies Under Federal Scrutiny

The confrontation intensified after Mayor Frey’s profanity-laden outburst demanding federal agents “get the f*** out of Minneapolis” and issuing an executive order barring ICE from city property. Governor Walz similarly told the Trump administration to “leave Minnesota alone,” prompting federal officials to compare their obstruction tactics to those employed by Illinois Governor Pritzker and California Governor Newsom. Despite claims from Walz’s office that Minnesota honors all 207 active detainers, federal officials maintain that sanctuary-style policies have enabled the release of hundreds of criminal aliens, creating a public safety crisis that necessitated the massive federal intervention.

The dispute escalated following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent during a raid in South Minneapolis, with federal officials stating Good attempted to run over agents with her vehicle. Local officials disputed this account and used the incident to further resist federal operations, leading to intensified protests outside ICE facilities that were met with pepper balls and tear gas under Bovino’s direction.

Constitutional Showdown Looms

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Mayor Frey, and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her announced a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming the deployment of thousands of federal agents constitutes an unconstitutional “federal invasion.” The lawsuit challenges Operation Metro Surge as creating “chaos and terror” in immigrant communities while stretching local police resources thin with command centers and overtime costs. This legal battle represents a critical test of federal versus local authority in immigration enforcement, with implications extending far beyond Minnesota’s borders as other sanctuary jurisdictions watch the outcome closely.