SAINT PAUL, MN — Following a shooting involving federal ICE agents in Minneapolis, Governor Tim Walz directed state agencies to mobilize resources to support public safety efforts in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The Minnesota National Guard has been notified to prepare in case assistance is needed, and the State Emergency Operations Center has been activated to coordinate the response.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI are jointly investigating the incident. State officials are coordinating with law enforcement agencies in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Hennepin and Ramsey counties, the Department of Natural Resources, and the National Guard. The Minnesota State Patrol has deployed 85 members of its Mobile Response Team to assist in the Twin Cities, while the Guard remains on standby.
“Our top priority is keeping Minnesotans safe,” said Governor Walz. “State and local leaders are taking every step to support law enforcement and protect residents, and state resources have been deployed to ensure our neighborhoods remain safe. We have repeatedly warned that this federal mobilization was putting residents at risk. I encourage Minnesotans to remain calm. This mobilization was about putting on a show from the beginning – let’s not give it to them.”
Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson of East Grand Forks says the governor is correcting a mistake he made before. “That was the lesson he learned from back when the George Floyd protests happened. He was very late on preparing the National Guard and getting things ready to get in place and curtail that one. So, I think it’s good preparation to have people ready to do that. But again, that’s got to be coupled with rhetoric that matches de-escalation.”
State officials say the emergency operations center will continue coordinating agencies to respond quickly to potential threats and maintain public safety.
