Immigration Enforcement Minnesota

A federal judge has blocked an attempt by the Trump administration to subpoena Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other state officials, calling it an effort to “harass and retaliate against them.” U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz found in a ruling unsealed Monday that the “dominant purpose” of the subpoenas was to “coerce Minnesota officials into assisting the federal government with enforcing civil immigration law and to harass and retaliate against them for failing to do so.” The subpoenas were served in January as part of an investigation into whether Walz and other officials obstructed or impeded law enforcement during a sweeping immigration operation in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Walz calls the ruling “a victory for the rule of law and our democracy.”

Minnesota prosecutors have obtained key evidence in their investigations into the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. The killing happened during protests against a federal immigration enforcement crackdown earlier this year. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Monday that her office now has hard drives with statements, police body camera video, and other evidence previously withheld by federal officials. Investigators also have Good’s damaged car. Moriarty expressed relief at having all the evidence. Investigators are currently reviewing the hard drives, video footage, and the physical car involved.