Tensions between federal immigration authorities and Minnesota local officials reached a boiling point Monday after a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official called for immediate arrests following an incident where protesters stormed a church in St. Paul.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, appearing on Fox News, characterized the recent disruption of a church service by anti-ICE demonstrators as “outright hysteria” and criticized the leadership of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz.
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The controversy stems from video footage showing demonstrators entering a St. Paul church, reportedly searching for a pastor they believed to be connected to immigration enforcement. McLaughlin stated that the individual targeted in the footage was the lead pastor, not the person protesters were seeking, and condemned the action as a violation of First Amendment rights.
“These are worshippers who are practicing their First Amendment rights to worship, and yet those rights were trampled on by these protesters who trespassed and began intimidating these Christians,” McLaughlin said. “I’m glad to see the Department of Justice is taking this incredibly seriously, and I hope we see mugshots soon.”
The incident highlights the deepening rift between federal enforcement and local governance in the Twin Cities. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has been a vocal critic of the recent federal crackdown, describing the city as being “under siege.”
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In a clip referenced during the broadcast, Frey characterized the federal operations as an “invasion” designed to intimidate. “It is not fair, it’s not just, and it’s completely unconstitutional,” Frey said, asserting that the city would not back down.
McLaughlin dismissed Frey’s comments as “abjectly, completely false,” arguing that the lack of cooperation from local leaders is fueling public safety crises. She contrasted the situation in Minnesota, where she cited over 10,000 arrests and violent clashes with police, with states like Florida and Tennessee, which she claimed have seen calmer outcomes due to state cooperation.
Federal officials allege that Minneapolis is currently holding approximately 1,370 “criminal illegal aliens” in custody—a figure McLaughlin says includes individuals with charges ranging from murder to child predation—and that local jails are refusing to honor federal detainers.
“Those people should serve their time and then they should be turned over to ICE,” McLaughlin stated. “We have not seen that. We’ve seen no cooperation.”
The standoff continues as federal authorities urge Walz and Frey to allow local police to support federal agents, while local leaders maintain their stance against what they view as overreach by immigration enforcement.
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