By Michael Katz
The Department of Homeland Security denied claims by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents unlawfully arrested U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, asserting that officers were acting lawfully when responding to interference with federal law enforcement activities.
In a statement released on Friday, DHS officials rejected allegations that agents targeted citizens for merely observing enforcement actions. They emphasized that federal officers are authorized to act when operations are obstructed or compromised.
“Secretary Kristi Noem has been clear: if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” DHS wrote in its statement.
The department further stated, “Obstructing law enforcement is not protesting, it is a crime. Instead of trying to spread misinformation, Governor Walz should focus on protecting American lives and thanking the brave men and women of DHS law enforcement who are risking their lives to make communities in his state safer.”
This response followed a letter sent by Governor Walz to Secretary Noem on Wednesday, in which he accused ICE of unlawful conduct and civil rights violations during enforcement activity in Minneapolis.
Governor Walz described two incidents: In one case, a woman identified as “Sue” refused an order to move back from the scene while documenting ICE activities and was subsequently pushed, handcuffed, transported to a federal facility, and held for several hours on an obstruction charge.
In another incident, Governor Walz cited an individual identified as “Mubashir,” who he claimed was chased, tackled, handcuffed, and detained despite repeatedly stating his citizenship and offering identification.
The governor characterized both incidents as examples of citizens being unlawfully detained for exercising their rights and called for an internal review of ICE actions, potential disciplinary measures against agents, and a reassessment of DHS enforcement strategies.
DHS indicated that the encounters cited by Governor Walz might have involved interference with active law enforcement operations—a situation in which agents are permitted to take action to secure an enforcement scene. Federal officials have repeatedly warned that approaching, obstructing, or refusing lawful orders during enforcement activities can escalate incidents and place officers and civilians at risk.
The department also stated that such situations are often mischaracterized after the fact as passive observation. DHS further noted a “growing and disturbing trend” of agitators and rioters obstructing arrests of illegal aliens and assaulting law enforcement, citing a more than 1050% increase in assaults and an 8000% increase in death threats against officers.
DHS added that ICE agents operate under federal authority and are empowered to detain individuals when necessary to maintain operational security, even if those individuals are later determined to be U.S. citizens.
