Tipsheet

Why Did Tim Walz and Jacob Frey Release Nearly 500 Criminal Aliens?

Joseph Chalfant
Joseph Chalfant  |  January 20, 2026 8:00 PM

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have reportedly refused to cooperate with immigration officials and released nearly 500 criminal illegal aliens back into the community.

“For example: One of the things we've asked Gov. Walz for, and Mayor Frey, is to give us just the criminals you have in jail,” said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “They've released 490 murderers, and rapists, and drug traffickers onto their streets, rather than just give them to us — and that’s what I don’t understand.”

The Trump administration has argued that Democrat politicians in Minnesota have conspired to impede federal immigration enforcement operations, resulting in subpoenas for Walz, Frey, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and others.

In the interview, Noem also disputed the claim that federal agents have strayed from standard practices. “We’re doing the same thing that law enforcement has done for years — under this administration, under the Biden administration — all of them,” Noem stated.

Since the launch of Operation Metro Surge in December, ICE has apprehended 3,000 aliens in Minnesota alone. The “Worst of the Worst” were featured on Noem’s social media accounts on Tuesday.