Tim Walz and Jacob Frey spent three weeks protecting criminal illegal aliens from federal arrest.
Their resistance campaign included encouraging protesters to physically obstruct ICE operations, publicly attacking federal agents as "untrained," and filing lawsuits to block the largest immigration enforcement operation in American history.
Now Melania Trump just confirmed President Trump had calls with both Democrats – and what she said about those conversations should terrify every sanctuary city mayor in America.
Democrats Created The Minneapolis Chaos During Operation Metro Surge
President Trump deployed 3,000 federal agents to the Twin Cities in January for Operation Metro Surge – targeting criminal illegal aliens for removal.
Walz and Frey immediately declared war on the operation.
The governor publicly called federal agents "untrained" and accused them of "organized brutality." The mayor told ICE to "get the f*** out of Minneapolis" during a press conference. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed emergency lawsuits demanding Operation Metro Surge be halted entirely.
But the most dangerous thing Walz and Frey did was encourage physical resistance.
Protesters flooded Minneapolis streets for three weeks, blowing whistles to warn illegal aliens when ICE approached, forming human chains to block agents, and physically interfering with arrests.
That interference turned deadly twice.
On January 7, ICE agent Jonathan Ross encountered Renée Good during an enforcement operation. When Ross moved in front of her car and she began driving forward, he fired three shots, killing her.
On January 24, Alex Pretti – a protester filming federal agents with his phone – physically intervened when Border Patrol agents pushed a woman to the ground. Agents pepper-sprayed Pretti, wrestled him down, and during the struggle with six agents surrounding him, shots were fired. Pretti died at the scene.
Both were American citizens exercising rights. Both died in confrontations that happened because Democrat leaders told people to get in ICE's way.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara admitted the city had only three homicides in 2026 – and two were these federal shootings.
Democrats immediately blamed Trump.
Border Czar Tom Homan Sent To Finish ICE Mission
First Lady Melania Trump appeared on Fox & Friends Tuesday morning and revealed exactly what President Trump told Walz and Frey during Monday phone calls.
"We need to unify," Melania said. "I know my husband, the president, had a great call yesterday with the governor and the mayor, and they're working together to make it peaceful and without riots."
She added: "I'm against the violence so, please, if you protest, protest in peace."
Working together. Peaceful. No riots.
Translation: Walz and Frey agreed to stop encouraging obstruction.
President Trump announced he's dispatching Border Czar Tom Homan to Minnesota – bypassing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and removing Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino from the operation entirely. Homan, who served as acting ICE director during Trump's first term, will now report directly to Trump and manage all federal immigration operations in Minnesota.
Some federal agents are leaving Minneapolis. Bovino is being pulled out.
But Trump gave Walz and Frey three non-negotiable demands during those calls.
Minnesota must immediately turn over every criminal illegal alien currently held in state prisons and jails to federal authorities. Minnesota must transfer custody of any illegal aliens arrested by local police directly to ICE. Minnesota law enforcement must actively assist federal agents in locating and apprehending illegal aliens wanted for violent crimes.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made this crystal clear: "If Governor Walz and Mayor Frey implement these common-sense cooperative measures, CBP will no longer be needed to support ICE on the ground in Minnesota."
No longer needed. Not ending operations. Not apologizing.
Trump is offering Walz and Frey a choice: help ICE remove criminals, or watch federal agents continue operating in your city while you take political blame for the chaos your obstruction created.
Minneapolis Shootings Won't Stop Trump's Immigration Crackdown
Governor Walz emerged from his call with Trump claiming progress.
"He pledged that, 'Look, I'm going to send Tom Homan in. We'll do things differently,'" Walz told Minnesota Public Radio. He posted on social media that Trump agreed to "look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota."
Mayor Frey struck a similar tone: "The president agreed that this situation cannot continue."
Both Democrats are reading this completely wrong.
Tom Homan isn't going to Minneapolis to apologize for removing criminal illegal aliens. He's going there to do it more efficiently.
Homan once told illegal immigrants "you should be afraid" during congressional testimony. He designed policies that separated families at the border to deter illegal entry. He's a hardliner who believes immigration law should be enforced without apology.
Trump didn't send Homan to Minnesota because two people died. He sent Homan because Noem and Bovino let Democrat obstruction create a political circus that gave Democrats ammunition.
The mission hasn't changed. The tactics are changing.
Trump's Minnesota Strategy: Template For Every Sanctuary City
Trump isn't backing down in Minneapolis. He's demonstrating to every sanctuary city in America exactly what happens when local Democrats obstruct federal immigration enforcement.
First, Trump deploys overwhelming force – 3,000 agents to one city.
Second, when Democrat leaders encourage obstruction and chaos results, Trump doesn't apologize. He changes leadership and continues operations.
Third, Trump gives local Democrats a choice: cooperate and let us finish the mission quietly, or refuse and watch us continue operations while you take political blame for every problem.
Fourth, Trump sends his most trusted enforcer to prove the mission will continue regardless of local resistance.
This is the template Trump will use in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and every other sanctuary city where Democrat mayors think they can block ICE operations.
Walz thought he was forcing Trump to retreat by filing lawsuits and encouraging protests.
He just learned he gave Trump justification to deploy federal agents indefinitely until Minnesota cooperates with removing criminal aliens.
Frey thought telling ICE to "get the f*** out" would rally progressive support.
He just learned Trump will keep agents in Minneapolis until the mayor helps them do their job.
The "great calls" Melania described weren't peace negotiations.
They were Trump explaining the new reality to Democrats who thought they could run out the clock on Operation Metro Surge.
Tom Homan arrives in Minnesota to remove every criminal illegal alien Trump sent him to remove – with or without Walz and Frey's cooperation.
Democrats who encouraged protesters to physically obstruct federal agents are learning they can't blame Trump when those obstructions turn violent.
And Democrats who filed lawsuits to block immigration enforcement are learning Trump will simply send more agents and keep them there longer.
Melania's message about unity and working together isn't an olive branch.
It's a warning: cooperate now, or watch Tom Homan finish this mission while your city burns and voters blame you for the chaos.
The choice is Walz and Frey's.
But one way or another, Trump is removing criminal illegal aliens from Minneapolis.
Sources:
- Taylor Penley, "Melania Trump calls for national unity as Minneapolis tensions remain high following federal shootings," Fox News, January 27, 2026.
- Andrew Ross Sorkin, "Trump has 'very good' call with Minneapolis Mayor Frey, announces border czar Homan meeting," Fox News, January 26, 2026.
- Lauren Egan, "White House eases tone on Pretti killing," CNBC, January 26, 2026.
- Gabe Gutierrez, "White House distances Trump from provocative claims by Noem," ABC News, January 27, 2026.
- Esme Murphy, "Bovino, some Border Patrol agents to leave Minneapolis soon," CBS News, January 27, 2026.
- Suzanne Lynch, "Why is Trump sending Border Czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis?" TIME, January 27, 2026.
