Consider This from NPR
Gov. Tim Walz is skeptical about Trump’s plan to de-escalate immigration crackdown
30 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What are the current tensions surrounding immigration in Minnesota?
Tensions are high in Minnesota. But where do plans stand for the federal government to draw back federal officers from the state and de-escalate? When asked about this on Thursday, President Trump said, We want to keep our country safe.
We'll do whatever we can to keep our country safe. So, yeah, pulling back? No, no, not at all.
Which came hours after White House border czar Tom Homan said this Thursday.
My main focus now is drawdown. based upon the great conversations I've had with your state and local leaders. Homan also said it depends on what local leaders do next. We are not surrendering the president's mission on immigration enforcement. Let's make that clear. As we see that cooperation happen, then the redeployment will happen.
Consider this. Minnesota's governor is skeptical about many things the administration is saying about de-escalating its immigration crackdown.
I know who I'm dealing with. I know that they're not going to keep their word.
Coming up, we speak with Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. From NPR, I'm Juana Summers. It's Consider This from NPR. Earlier today, I sat down with Governor Tim Walz at the Minnesota State Capitol to talk about ICE enforcement in his state. Here is some of our conversation, and you can watch full video of the interview on NPR's YouTube channel and at NPR.org.
I just want to start big picture for people who are not in Minnesota as you and I are. What is the status of Operation Metro Surge in your state right now? And does that align with what you have been hearing from the president, administration officials that you have been speaking with in recent days?
I would say since my conversation on Monday with the president yesterday, I don't think there's been a lot of change. There's less smoke on the ground, but I have no indication that the numbers have come down. I will say I'm concerned over the last day or so, the developments.
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Chapter 2: How does Governor Walz view Trump's immigration de-escalation plan?
And I said it, and I don't even think the president himself would disagree with this. They have not changed their goal of mass deportations. They may try and change their tactics a little bit, but it doesn't change the underlying mission here, which is to cause great fear and chaos in communities. And to be very honest, very
ineffective in actually targeting what they say is the worst of the worst. I'm pretty sure Liam, our little five-year-old, was the worst of the worst. And as the world has found out, not only are Renee and Alex not the worst of the worst, they might be the best of the best.
We heard Borders Art Tom Homan, who is here in your state, he spoke and he seemed to suggest that he wanted to see cooperation from you and other local leaders. And one of the things that he suggested he wanted to see is a reduction in interference from protesters and activists on the ground here in the Twin Cities.
We're speaking, I just want to note, on a day when there's a general strike here in Minnesota across the country. Are there any agreements on demonstrations that you're willing to make?
I'm not going to compromise on the First Amendment. I'm not going to allow Tom Holman to characterize what are constitutionally protected rights of peaceful expression of grievance against the government. It's foundational to our democracy. They are trying to twist reality here with peaceful protests.
They tried to do it with Alex and they will go back, you know, they will dig up your kindergarten yearbook or whatever to try and discredit you. Look, I think there's really little debate in this. Had there been no video of that, Alex and Renee would both be deemed terrorists. Their families would probably be detained by now, and they would continue to spout these lies.
Kristi Noem continues to go on and try and defend. Now, I will give her this. She maybe has a lawyer or something now. I don't know. She's saying she's just taking marching orders. I remind everyone that's no defense. That's no defense in carrying out what they've done.
I'll note that the administration has not only faulted protesters and observers. Attorney General Pan Bondi wrote a letter last week, and she criticized you personally for calling federal law enforcement, and I'm quoting here, Trump's modern-day Gestapo. How do you respond to her accusation that your rhetoric and remarks from other state officials aren't doing enough in her words?
These are her words to support the men and women who are risking their lives to protect Americans and uphold the rule of law.
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Chapter 3: What is the status of Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota?
I understand my job is to, I need to, and again, dealing with what would be a normal world, my job is to approach this measured, to be a statesman. But I'm not naive. That's not who I'm dealing with. That is not who these folks are. So to America, I would just say, I'm going to continue to speak up. I'm going to continue to express my opinion.
anger and disgust and my expectations that Pam Bondi be an independent voice for justice and not take their march. Look, the president telegraphed what was happening here. This was about retribution. And that means retribution to the people of Minnesota. It's retribution to the way we do things.
And I think many people here in Minnesota knows is they cannot stand that this state honors immigration.
I do want to push you, though, on the political environment, the rhetoric that we're seeing lately. It is not lost on me. that you and I are having this conversation in a state where we saw State Representative Melissa Hortman, another Democratic lawmaker. Melissa Hortman was killed. What happened with Ilhan Omar, Congresswoman, this week?
Do you feel at all that you have a responsibility to help bring the temperature of the rhetoric that we're hearing and seeing?
Yes, that's why I talk about peacefulness all the time. That's why I talk to make sure that we're staying within the bounds of the law. I'm not going to say, gee, you guys should just be a little softer here when you push someone to the ground and put a gun near their head. I'm going to find the words that express the outrage that I'm feeling. Yes, I think about it.
And I got to be candid with you. I'm probably doing a pretty good job of not speaking what's truly on my heart about these people to try and find that. And that is part of politics. That is part of how you get things done. But in this moment, this has changed. this has transcended politics to be a fundamental moral issue. So if you're asking me, am I going to compromise with authoritarianism?
Nope. Am I going to compromise on an erosion of civil liberties? Nope. So I'm going to go ahead and reject that both sides are responsible for this. There's one clear side that's doing this.
Yesterday on All Things Considered, my colleague spoke with Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson, and he invoked you. So I'd like to ask you about something that he said speaking about the situation here in Minnesota.
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Chapter 4: How does Governor Walz respond to accusations of resistance to law enforcement?
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