Trump Issues Immigration Demands to Walz, Democratic Leaders

By Adeola Adeosun

Weekend Night Editor

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President Donald Trump issued five specific demands to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, all Democratic governors and mayors, and Congress on Sunday, calling on them to "formally cooperate with the Trump Administration to enforce our Nation's Laws" following the fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis.

Newsweek reached out to Walz and Frey's office via email on Sunday for comment.

The Context

The presidential demands represent an escalation in the conflict between the Trump administration and Democratic-led states over immigration enforcement. The directive follows the shooting death of Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was fatally shot on Saturday by federal agents during what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described as a targeted immigration operation.

Minnesota officials, including Attorney General Keith Ellison, have announced plans to challenge federal operations in court, while Gov. Walz has called for the removal of federal agents from the state.

The president's demands signal an expansion of federal-state tensions beyond Minnesota, with Trump calling on all Democratic governors and mayors nationwide to cooperate with immigration enforcement efforts.

Trump on Truth Social

The president posted on Sunday:

"That is why I am hereby calling on Governor Walz, Mayor Frey, and EVERY Democrat Governor and Mayor in the United States of America to formally cooperate with the Trump Administration to enforce our Nation's Laws, rather than resist and stoke the flames of Division, Chaos, and Violence:

Governor Walz and Mayor Frey should turn over all Criminal Illegal Aliens that are currently incarcerated in their State Prisons and Jails to Federal Authorities, along with all Illegal Criminals with an active warrant or known Criminal History, for Immediate Deportation.
State and Local Law Enforcement must agree to turn over all Illegal Aliens arrested by Local Police.
Local Police must assist Federal Law Enforcement in apprehending and detaining Illegal Aliens who are wanted for Crimes.
Democrat Politicians must partner with the Federal Government to protect American Citizens in the rapid removal of all Criminal Illegal Aliens in our Country. Some Democrats, in places like Memphis, Tennessee, or Washington, D.C., have done so, resulting in safer streets for ALL.

In addition, I am hereby calling on the United States Congress to immediately pass Legislation to END Sanctuary Cities, which is the root cause of all of these problems. American Cities should be Safe Sanctuaries for Law Abiding American Citizens ONLY, not Illegal Alien Criminals who broke our Nation's Laws.

All of these requests are rooted in COMMON SENSE, and will provide the best possible circumstances to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! The Trump Administration is standing by, and waiting for ANY Democrat to do the right thing, and work with us on these important matters of MAKING AMERICA SAFE like it is in all sections of our Country where we are, together with Local Leadership, participating and involved.

DONALD J. TRUMP PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA"

Bondi Letter Sets Additional Conditions

Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Gov. Walz late Saturday night demanding the state take three specific actions before federal immigration agents would consider reducing their presence in Minneapolis.

Bondi's conditions include providing the Department of Justice with the state's voter registration records, repealing sanctuary policies, and sharing records on Medicaid and Food and Nutrition Service programs.

In the letter, Bondi blamed both state and local leaders for the unrest that has come in response to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations, writing: "You and your office must restore the rule of law, support ICE officers and bring an end to the chaos in Minnesota." She cited a 1,300 percent increase in violence against ICE officers and a 3,200 percent increase in vehicular attacks against federal agents as justification for continued operations.

The attorney general criticized Walz specifically for describing federal law enforcement as "Trump's modern-day Gestapo" and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for saying "ICE: Get the f*** out of Minneapolis." The letter has prompted criticism from Democratic officials and legal experts. Senator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, wrote on X: "This has never been about safety or immigration. It's a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states."

Conflicting Narratives Over Shooting

The shooting of Pretti comes weeks after Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and U.S. citizen, was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis. Both incidents have sparked widespread protests and condemnation. DHS said the agent acted in self-defense after attempting to disarm Pretti, but Gov. Walz said that account was "nonsense" after reviewing videos of the shooting.

Pretti's family said in a statement that their son was "a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital."

They condemned what they called "sickening lies told about our son by the administration," stating that Pretti "has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed."

What People Are Saying

Governor Tim Walz on X: "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."

Attorney General Keith Ellison on X: "Minnesotans, you have stood up for your neighbors, without faltering, without failing, and without backing down. I am proud to be in this fight with you and I am here to match your bravery."

Mayor Jacob Frey posted on Saturday: "After today’s shooting, Minneapolis is filing a declaration to push for an immediate ruling on our temporary restraining order. We need swift action to protect our city. I've formally requested National Guard assistance to support our 600 Minneapolis police officers. I’ve been clear for weeks: this situation is unsustainable. Our community is tired. Our officers are tired. Our businesses are tired. Our top priority is safety and this will help."

He added: "My executive order remains in effect: ICE cannot use City-owned property for immigration enforcement."

Attorney General Pam Bondi on X: "The full weight of federal law enforcement is engaged in Minnesota, and this Department of Justice is advancing action on every front. Walz, Ellison and Frey have acknowledged receipt of federal grand jury subpoenas from this DOJ. We have arrested multiple individuals in the Cities Church attack and will continue to fight for our religious organizations. Today we arrested a man who violently assaulted an HSI agent. More arrests are coming. Meanwhile, our attorneys are relentlessly fighting to defeat the unprecedented judicial activism unfolding in Minnesota. Accountability is coming."

...

What Happens Next

Attorney General Ellison's court challenge to federal immigration operations is scheduled for Monday, while the City of Minneapolis is also filing a declaration seeking a temporary restraining order to pause the operations.

The Trump administration has indicated it will increase federal law enforcement presence in Minneapolis with additional officers from the DEA, FBI, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) despite mounting pressure from state officials.

Update 1/25/26, 7:52 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

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