Trump Calls for Law Enforcement Cooperation in Minnesota

President Donald Trump reached out to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Monday, urging law enforcement at state and local levels to collaborate peacefully with federal officials.

White House press secretary Caroline Levitt discussed the conversation during a press briefing, emphasizing Trump’s desire for police autonomy. She accused Governor Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of fostering anti-ICE sentiments, which she blamed for the recent fatalities of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Preti at the hands of law enforcement.

“President Trump wishes for the turmoil to cease immediately. Consequently, he had a direct discussion with Governor Walz, clearly outlining a straightforward way to restore order in Minnesota,” Levitt asserted.

Among his requests, Trump is demanding that Walz, Frey, and other Democratic officials release all currently incarcerated undocumented immigrants, especially those with active warrants or criminal backgrounds.

Furthermore, Trump called for local law enforcement to facilitate the extradition of apprehended undocumented individuals and urged police to assist in detaining immigrants wanted for criminal offenses.

“If Governor Walz and Mayor Frey can initiate these sensible cooperative measures… we shouldn’t need the support of Customs and Border Protection in Minnesota,” Levitt added. “ICE and local law enforcement can continue to operate hand in hand, just as they do effectively in various states.”

Levitt reiterated, “We want cops to be cops.”

In addition to these discussions, Trump is also pushing Congress to pass legislation aimed at abolishing sanctuary cities, which would prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with federal authorities.

Walz acknowledged the phone call in a social media post, but it seems no consensus was achieved between the two sides. “I had a productive conversation with the President previously and shared that his staff lacked a firm understanding of Minnesota’s circumstances,” Walz remarked.

He also shared an editorial in the Wall Street Journal, arguing that the federal involvement in Minnesota is less about immigration issues and more about “systematic brutality against the state’s citizens.”

Walz countered Trump’s claims that Minnesota prisons release dangerous individuals, stating that the Minnesota Department of Corrections notifies ICE whenever a detainee is not a U.S. citizen. He insisted that no one has been released from state prison without a proper transfer plan.