DOJ probes Minnesota's governor over immigration enforcement

Chris Strohm and Myles Miller, Bloomberg News on Jan 16, 2026

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The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for potentially impeding federal immigration enforcement efforts, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The investigation is in its early stages, according to the person, who asked not to be identified discussing the probe. CBS News reported the probe earlier Friday.

The probe comes as the the departments of Justice and Homeland Security are surging immigration enforcement agents to Minnesota amid rising tensions between the Trump administration and state and local officials.

Tensions have continued to mount after Minnesota resident Renee Good was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Friday in a social media post that didn’t reference the probe, “A reminder to all those in Minnesota: No one is above the law.”

A Justice Department spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Walz, a Democrat who was the party’s vice presidential candidate in 2024, said in a statement Friday that “weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic.” His office said it hadn’t received any notice of an investigation.

“The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her,” Walz said.

Walz’s office said he has repeatedly called for lowering tensions.

Frey said in a social media post Friday that the reported investigation “is an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, local law enforcement, and residents against the chaos and danger this Administration has brought to our city.”

Meanwhile, a Minnesota federal judge on Friday restricted the use of force by ICE officers in Minneapolis after protesters alleged widespread abuse that violated their constitutional rights.

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With assistance from Miranda Davis.

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