Former ICE Director Accuses Walz And Frey Of Impeding Federal Law Enforcement
Former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Jonathan Fahey issued a blistering rebuke Saturday of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing the two Democratic officials of deliberately obstructing federal immigration enforcement in an effort to undermine President Donald J. Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Fahey made the remarks during an appearance on Fox News’ Fox Report with host Jon Scott, according to Mediaite, responding to calls from local leaders for federal agents to be removed from Minnesota following a deadly shooting involving a Border Patrol officer earlier in the day.
The interview aired shortly after Frey publicly demanded that the Trump administration withdraw Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol agents from the state. During the segment, Fox News played video of Frey characterizing recent anti-ICE demonstrations in Minneapolis as “peaceful” and claiming they “embody the very principles” of what it means to be an American.
Fahey forcefully rejected that narrative, arguing that Frey has actively used his authority to interfere with the enforcement of federal law.
“[Frey’s] talking about our democracy,” Fahey said. “Well, part of our democracy is we have elections and we pass laws, and the Executive branch enforces the laws. And he’s using his authority to prevent the law from being enforced.”
According to Fahey, both Frey and Walz have effectively turned parts of Minnesota into de facto “no-go zones” for federal immigration agents—an action he described as unprecedented in modern American history.
“It’s a complete subversion effort by him and Governor Walz — the likes of which we have not seen probably since the Civil War,” Fahey said.
Fahey stressed that the Constitution does not permit state or local officials to selectively nullify federal law based on political ideology or activist pressure.
“You can’t have a state, you can’t have a politician, and you can’t have some activists decide what federal laws get enforced and where they get enforced,” Fahey said. “It’s really outrageous conduct.”
Fahey briefly served as acting ICE director during President Trump’s first term, from late 2020 into early 2021.
His comments followed the fatal shooting of a protester by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis. The individual was identified by the Minnesota Star Tribune as Alex Jeffrey Pretti. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Pretti was a “lawful gun owner.”
The shooting sparked renewed anti-ICE and anti–Border Patrol demonstrations in the city, which has already endured weeks of unrest following the earlier shooting death of protester Renee Good.
Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino told reporters that Pretti approached federal agents with a 9 mm handgun while they were arresting a violent illegal immigrant from Ecuador.
“The suspect also had two loaded magazines and no accessible ID,” Bovino said. “This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.”
Mayor Frey has repeatedly described Minneapolis as being placed in an “impossible situation” by ongoing federal immigration operations. Speaking to reporters earlier this month—after the death of Renee Good and prior to the shooting of Pretti—Frey said the circumstances were “not sustainable,” even as tensions between local officials and federal authorities continued to escalate.
“There’s still a lot that we don’t know at this time, but what I can tell you for certain is that this is not sustainable,” Frey said. “This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in, and at the same time, we are trying to find a way forward, to keep people safe, to protect our neighbors, to maintain order. And we’re in a position right now where we have residents that are asking the very limited number of police officers that we have to fight ICE agents on the street, to stand by their neighbors.”
As unrest continues, the clash between federal authority and sanctuary-style resistance in Minnesota has become a flashpoint in the broader national battle over immigration enforcement under President Trump.