Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) again sparked intense controversy after publicly stating that Americans should stop calling Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents law enforcement officers.
The remarks came during a press conference following a shooting incident in Minneapolis that involved federal agents and an anti-ICE activist.
The shooting occurred over the weekend in Minneapolis, prompting Walz to activate the Minnesota National Guard.
The governor announced that his state would send the bill for National Guard deployment directly to the federal government.
During his press conference addressing the incident, Walz revealed he had contacted the White House directly.
The governor said he made specific demands during his conversation with the president’s chief of staff.
“I spoke with the president’s chief of staff. And first request was to get her people out of there, to get these federal agents out of there. They were going to cause more chaos,” Walz said.
The governor indicated he would not accept any obstacles to investigating the shooting.
“Second call is with no uncertain terms that we will investigate this. We will not be stonewalled,” Walz stated.
Walz directed sharp criticism toward President Donald Trump and current federal immigration enforcement operations.
The governor suggested that public opposition would be necessary to halt ongoing federal activities in the state.
“This will end when enough Americans say this will end. Do I have any confidence Donald Trump will do the right thing? No, I don’t have a lot of confidence Donald Trump will do the right thing,” Walz said.
“I do have a lot of confidence that the majority of the American people will do the right thing, and I think there cannot be very many people across this country looking right now after all the reporting that’s been done, after everything that’s been said under the pretense that they are here about immigration reform,” he continued.
The governor then made his most controversial statement, directly challenging how ICE agents are characterized.
“Quit referring to these people as law enforcement. They are not law enforcement,” Walz said.
“We have law enforcement who do an incredible job, and to listen to Greg Bovino denigrate the work of our people who are out there cleaning up their mess, no, I don’t have a lot of confidence that he himself will do it, but here’s what I do have confidence in,” Walz added.
Walz continued by targeting Republican elected officials.
“There’s a whole lot of Republicans for whatever reason cannot find their spine. But they might find the ability to know that they’re not going to win another election as long as they live unless they stand up for what’s right and stand up for the rule of law and stand up for human decency, and that’s the moment right now,” the governor stated.
WATCH:
Resist the Mainstream reported over the weekend on a convicted Minnesota fraudster accusing top Democratic leaders including Walz of knowing about massive abuse of taxpayer-funded programs long before federal prosecutors stepped in.
Aimee Bock, the former head of the now-defunct nonprofit Feeding Our Future, made the allegations during a jailhouse interview from Sherburne County Jail, where she is being held following her conviction in one of the largest fraud schemes in Minnesota history.
Bock told Fox News that state leadership was aware of serious red flags tied to the federal child nutrition program but allowed payments to continue anyway.
