The White House, via Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, accused Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz of blocking cooperation with ICE and undermining law enforcement, claiming Walz released nearly 500 criminal immigrants since President Trump took office. Walz denied the charges and called for the removal of what he described as 3,000 "untrained" federal agents after recent deadly encounters involving immigration officers. The dispute follows contentious shootings that killed Renée Good and Alex Pretti and highlights broader tensions over state-federal coordination in immigration enforcement.
White House Accuses Gov. Tim Walz Of Blocking ICE Cooperation; Walz Denies Claims Amid Controversial Shootings
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington.(AP Newsroom)
The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, on Sunday sharply accused Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz of obstructing cooperation with federal immigration authorities and undermining law enforcement — allegations Walz strongly denies. The exchange follows heightened tensions after recent controversial encounters involving federal immigration agents in Minnesota.
White House Allegations
Leavitt used a social media post to assert that Walz has refused to allow state and local law enforcement to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during large-scale enforcement operations. She wrote that "Tim Walz does NOT believe in law and order" and accused him of releasing "nearly 500 criminal illegal aliens" back onto Minnesota streets since President Donald Trump took office, rather than transferring them to federal custody.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced that he would not be seeking reelection on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at a press conference at the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn.
Leavitt also alleged that Walz has spread "malicious lies" about federal officers and encouraged "left-wing agitators to stalk and record federal officers," which she said has led to officers being "doxxed, targeted, impeded, and placed in extremely dangerous situations." She invoked Walz’s handling of the 2020 civil unrest in Minneapolis and accused him of overseeing "massive fraud schemes" that she claimed cost "tens of billions of dollars in stolen American taxpayer funds."
Walz's Response
Gov. Walz pushed back on the allegations in a post on X, writing:
"Minnesota believes in law and order. We believe in peace. And we believe that Trump needs to pull his 3,000 untrained agents out of Minnesota before they kill another American in the street."Walz has publicly criticized the expanded federal presence after several contentious confrontations involving immigration agents.
A Border Patrol member pepper sprays observers after getting into a car accident on Blaisdell Avenue on Jan. 21, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn.
Context
The dispute comes after recent fatal encounters involving immigration agents, including the early January death of Minneapolis resident Renée Good and a subsequent fatal shooting that killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti. These incidents have intensified scrutiny of federal enforcement tactics and state-federal coordination.
What Both Sides Say
Leavitt urged Walz to cooperate with federal authorities, pointing to states such as Florida and Texas and to Washington, D.C., as examples where closer cooperation has, in the administration’s view, produced "peace and safety." Walz and his allies argue that the increased federal presence — which he described as thousands of "untrained" agents — risks escalating violence and undermines Minnesota communities.
Bottom Line
The exchange underscores deep disagreements over immigration enforcement, the proper role of federal agents in local communities, and how state and federal officials should coordinate — disagreements that are playing out publicly amid recent, high-profile shootings.
Help us improve.
