Pam Bondi Demands Minnesota Hand Over Voter Rolls, Welfare Data and Repeal Sanctuary Policies After Fatal Minneapolis Encounter

Attorney General Pamela Bondi sent a forceful letter to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Jan. 24, calling for state cooperation with the federal government following the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti during protests of immigration enforcement in Minneapolis. Bondi framed the events as a breakdown in local enforcement that, she says, requires state action to restore public safety and support federal immigration operations.

Bondi’s Claims and Demands

In the letter, Bondi defended a recent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operation — identified by the administration as Operation Metro Surge — and argued Minnesota officials’ criticism of federal immigration officers has left agents isolated and at greater risk. She accused state and local leaders of fostering an environment of "lawlessness in the streets" and portrayed anti-ICE demonstrators as "rioters." The letter did not address reporting and video footage that raise questions about how federal agents have conducted some operations.

"The State of Minnesota has refused to enforce the law, and the consequences are heartbreaking," Bondi wrote. "The time has come for state and local officials in your state to change course."

Bondi made three specific requests she said would "bring an end to the chaos in Minnesota":

1. Share State Welfare Records: Provide federal authorities access to Minnesota records for Medicaid and Food and Nutrition Service programs, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data, to support fraud investigations.
2. Repeal Sanctuary Policies: Rescind local sanctuary policies and require state detention facilities to cooperate fully with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), honor immigration detainers, and permit ICE interviews of detainees.
3. Grant DOJ Access to Voter Rolls: Allow the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division to review Minnesota voter rolls to confirm compliance with federal law, as authorized under federal civil-rights statutes.

Shooting of Alex Pretti and Aftermath

Bondi’s letter followed the Jan. 24 shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse and former Department of Veterans Affairs employee, during protests of federal immigration enforcement. DHS officials said Pretti interfered with an immigration arrest and approached agents with a handgun, prompting defensive gunfire. Senior DHS officials characterized the encounter as dangerous and said agents faced violent resistance.

However, video footage captured from multiple angles has raised serious questions about the official account. Independent analysis published by The New York Times found Pretti appeared to be standing with other protesters, holding a phone, when an agent sprayed the group and agents moved in. Body-worn and bystander video suggest Pretti did not clearly draw or raise a weapon before he was restrained and later shot. Minneapolis police said Pretti was a lawful gun owner and that a weapon on his waist appeared to have been unholstered and removed by an agent prior to the shooting; video indicates he was struck multiple times in a short span.

Octavio JONES / AFP via GettyMourners gather on Jan. 25 at a makeshift memorial where Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Pretti was shot dead by federal agents the day prior

Pretti’s family issued a statement calling the administration’s characterization of their son "sickening lies" and condemned the agents involved.

Governor Walz’s Response

Gov. Tim Walz rejected Bondi’s demands and criticized the federal operation on social media, saying in part, "They think they can provoke us into abandoning our values. They are wrong. We will keep the peace. We will secure justice for our neighbors. And we will see this occupation end." He urged the federal government to withdraw its agents and defended Minnesota’s right to self-governance and to protect residents' safety.

Context and Contested Claims

Bondi cited statistics alleging dramatic increases in attacks on ICE officers—figures she used to argue that stronger cooperation is needed to protect federal personnel and public safety. She also linked alleged fraud in welfare programs to broader concerns about election integrity. Some of these claims are contested or lack publicly verifiable sources in the letter itself; at minimum they underscore why state and federal officials remain sharply divided on the approach to immigration enforcement and civil oversight.

Whether Minnesota will comply with the requests is unresolved. The letter frames the government’s course as a choice between siding with federal enforcement priorities or prioritizing local oversight and civil liberties; the dispute highlights legal and political tensions between state sovereignty, public-safety concerns, and federal immigration enforcement.

Full Letter Excerpt: Bondi concluded by reiterating her role as the nation's chief law enforcement officer, urging Minnesota to "be a partner with this administration," and warning that the federal government would continue efforts to protect Americans even if state officials refused to cooperate.