Acting Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a stark warning that comments by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticizing federal immigration enforcement could rise to the level of a federal crime, particularly if their rhetoric is construed as encouraging obstruction of law enforcement operations. Blanche’s remarks come amid ongoing tensions following expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minneapolis that have sparked protests, legal challenges, and a broader federal investigation into state and local leadership.

Blanche specifically cited recent statements where local officials urged residents to report ICE agents via 911 if they saw them in neighborhoods — comments he said were “very close to a federal crime” under statutes that prohibit conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers carrying out their duties. The U.S. Department of Justice has moved forward with subpoenas as part of a criminal inquiry into whether Walz and Frey crossed legal lines when publicly opposing the federal deployment and framing it as harmful to community safety. :

The dispute escalated after a January 7, 2026, ICE enforcement operation in Minneapolis that resulted in the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent. The incident drew nationwide attention, sparking protests and fueling criticism from Walz and Frey, who have accused federal agents of heavy‑handed tactics and endangering civilians. Walz, for example, urged residents to document ICE activities to build evidence of what he described as misconduct, while Frey has sharply rebuked the presence of federal agents in the city. 

Department of Homeland Security officials, including Secretary Kristi Noem, have echoed Blanche’s concerns, arguing that local leaders’ rhetoric has emboldened protests and impeded law enforcement. Noem publicly stated that Frey and Walz needed to “get their city under control” and suggested that encouragement of interference with federal officers could constitute a felony under federal law. 

Attorney General Pam Bondi also weighed in on social media, reminding Minnesotans that “no one is above the law,” even as Walz and Frey denounced the investigation as politically motivated. The governor described the inquiry as an attempt to “weaponize the justice system” against his administration and those of other Democratic officials. 

Legal experts note that the core of the inquiry centers on 18 U.S.C. § 372, which makes it illegal to conspire to prevent federal officers from performing their duties by intimidation, force, or threats. While public criticism and opposition to federal policy typically fall under First Amendment protections, the department’s probe appears focused on whether statements by state and local leaders crossed the line into coordinated interference with federal enforcement actions. 

The developing situation underscores the deep political and legal fault lines exposed by the expanded immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, blending questions of federal authority, public safety, civil liberties, and the limits of political speech during high‑profile law enforcement operations.