Mark Jackson
President Trump has issued an ultimatum to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and all Democratic governors and mayors nationwide, calling for them to “formally cooperate with the Trump Administration to enforce our Nation’s Laws” instead of resisting federal immigration efforts. In a Truth Social post, Trump accused Democratic leadership of enabling illegal immigration surges during Joe Biden’s presidency, claiming “Tens of Millions of Illegal Alien Criminals poured into our Country, including Hundreds of Thousands of Convicted Murderers, Rapists, Kidnappers, Drug Dealers, and Terrorists.”
The president asserted that Republican-led states—including Texas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Louisiana—have successfully arrested 150,245 criminal aliens in ICE operations over the past year “with ZERO protests, riots, or chaos,” attributing this progress to cooperation between local law enforcement and federal agents. He contrasted this with “Democrat run Sanctuary Cities and States,” which he claimed are “REFUSING to cooperate with ICE” and actively “encouraging Leftwing Agitators to unlawfully obstruct” deportation efforts. Trump cited the deaths of two American citizens as tragic consequences of Democratic-led chaos, adding that some Democrats in Memphis, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C., have already partnered with federal authorities to create safer communities.
Trump outlined four specific demands:
1. Governor Walz and Mayor Frey must surrender all criminal aliens currently incarcerated in state prisons or jails, along with individuals possessing active warrants or criminal histories, for immediate deportation.
2. State and local law enforcement must turn over illegal aliens arrested by local police.
3. Local police must assist federal authorities in apprehending wanted illegal aliens.
4. Democratic politicians must collaborate with the federal government to protect American citizens during mass removals of criminal aliens.
The president also directed Congress to “immediately pass Legislation to END Sanctuary Cities,” calling it “the root cause” of violence and instability. He emphasized that “American Cities should be Safe Sanctuaries for Law Abiding American Citizens ONLY.”
Following Trump’s call, officials including South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino escalated the issue. Bovino stated on CNN’s “State of the Union” that he questioned whether a recent incident involving an officer named Pretti—who died after being pinned down by protesters—was linked to Democratic rhetoric. An ongoing investigation, supported by federal authorities and the FBI, is examining the shooting scene in Minnesota under a temporary restraining order issued by a state judge to preserve evidence. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reported that federal agents had blocked its access to the site despite a valid warrant.
