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DOJ launches inquiry into Minnesota officials
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over allegations they attempted to obstruct federal immigration operations, CBS News reports. The probe centers on public statements both Democrats made regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Federal judge restricts ICE tactics in Minneapolis
A federal judge issued an 83-page order Friday limiting how ICE and other law enforcement can engage with protesters in Minneapolis. The ruling bars the use of pepper spray and arrests of peaceful demonstrators. It also prohibits stopping vehicles unless officers have "reasonable articulable suspicion" of interference.
Judge Katherine Menendez noted that merely following federal agents in a car does not justify a traffic stop. The order affects thousands of federal officers deployed to the city for immigration enforcement.
Shooting death sparks protests and controversy
Tensions escalated after 37-year-old Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent last week. Good, a Minneapolis resident, was pronounced dead in an ambulance after paramedics found her with at least three gunshot wounds, including a possible head injury, according to official reports obtained by CBS.
Footage shows Good honking her SUV to alert neighbors about ICE presence before the shooting. The Trump administration claims she tried to run over an agent, while local officials describe her as a legal observer posing no threat. Video depicts an agent firing as Good's vehicle moves forward.
The FBI is investigating the incident, though no federal civil rights inquiry has been launched into the officer involved. Local authorities say they have been excluded from the probe.
Political fallout and accusations
Governor Walz responded to the DOJ inquiry on X, calling it "an authoritarian tactic" to "weaponize the justice system against your opponents." He questioned why the agent who shot Good was not under investigation.
"The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her."
Tim Walz, Minnesota Governor
Mayor Frey dismissed the probe as intimidation, stating: "I will not be intimidated. This is an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis."
President Donald Trump criticized local leaders on Truth Social, accusing protesters of being "highly paid professionals" and claiming Walz and Frey had "totally lost control." He ruled out invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy troops, calling it "very powerful" but unnecessary "right now."
Legal and operational scrutiny
The DOJ investigation focuses on 18 U.S.C. § 372, which criminalizes conspiracies to impede federal officers through "force, intimidation, or threats." A U.S. official confirmed the statute's relevance to CBS.
Democratic lawmakers, including Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, condemned ICE operations during a Friday hearing in Minneapolis. Omar accused ICE of "provoking chaos and fear," while New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat called the agency a "deadly weapon."
Residents testified to being detained and shackled for hours until they could prove U.S. citizenship. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin defended the practice, stating officers may verify identities if there is "reasonable suspicion" of someone near a detainee. She denied racial bias, asserting "racial animus has no place in DHS."
Ongoing protests and federal presence
Demonstrations continued Friday despite the judge's order. Thousands of ICE officers remain deployed in Minnesota, with federal immigration operations under growing scrutiny from state and local leaders.
