Tim Walz Criticizes ICE Operations in Minnesota During Jimmy Kimmel Interview

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday night to discuss the ICE raids that sparked widespread protests in Minnesota earlier this year. During the interview, Walz questioned the absence of vocal supporters of limited government intervention, asking, "Where are the ‘Don’t Tread On Me’ people?"

Jimmy Kimmel asked Walz whether he believed Minnesota was deliberately targeted by the Trump administration due to Walz’s role as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee alongside Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Walz responded emphatically:

"It’s not a coincidence. It’s not. I think he hates Minnesota because we take care of our people, we invest in people, we feed our people. I think that’s what it is."

Walz further alleged that the federal government had planned these operations strategically:

"I’m convinced they were going to pick a state. They wanted one. I think they thought Chicago, they tried it there, because they had 500 in Chicago. They came to Minneapolis with about 3,500. I think they wanted to roll this out, and I think they wanted to get a response from people that created violence so that they could use the Insurrection Act."

"I mean, this guy’s an authoritarian, and that was his goal."

The ICE raids in January were not limited to protests and riots. Two Minneapolis residents, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed in violent confrontations with ICE and Border Patrol agents. When Kimmel asked about the status of the criminal investigations into the agents involved, Walz revealed:

"They whisked them out of Minnesota. I assume they’re working somewhere else."

Walz also announced his executive action to establish a truth commission to investigate the incidents:

"I used my executive authority to launch here a few weeks ago a truth commission where we’re gathering all of this [information]. We’re going to bring them back and hold them accountable."

"[There’s been] no cooperation from the federal government whatsoever. No sharing information, and that is so unusual for any of these types of situations. We always share information."

He emphasized the severity of the situation, stating:

"This [was] a very dangerous situation where the federal government weaponized, literally weaponized against citizens and nothing would happen."

"I said this whole time, ‘Where are the ‘Don’t Tread On Me’ people?’ Because we were sure the hell getting tread on in Minnesota."