DOJ subpoenas Minnesota officials, accuses them of conspiring to impede ICE

The Department of Justice has issued subpoenas for several high-profile officials in Minnesota after announcing they were investigating a “conspiracy to impede ICE” operations in the state. The officials who have received subpoenas are all elected Democrats and include: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz; State Attorney General Keith Ellison; Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey; Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty; and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her.

The subpoena submitted to Frey’s office requests documentation of any immigration enforcement-related directives and any documents or communications related to “hindering, doxxing, identifying, or surveilling” of ICE officers.

Legal experts say the DOJ’s investigation is on dubious footing legally. Minnesota is not a sanctuary state but Minneapolis is a sanctuary city, with policies limiting cooperation between local and federal law enforcement in matters of immigration enforcement. However, legal analysts say that such policies do not rise to the level of obstructing ICE or even a “conspiracy” to do so.

Former US Attorney Barbara McQuade tweeted that “the crime of impeding federal agents requires physical force”. McQuade implied that the DOJ is instead targeting Walz, Frey et. al. for their criticism of ICE’s tactics in the state, which law professor David Schultz points out is a clear cut First Amendment issue. Schultz also observed that none of the officials subpoenaed have even verbally called for an “overt act of obstruction” of ICE agents.

ICE agents in Minnesota break into US citizen’s home and force him out into the cold at gunpoint in his boxer shorts.