Walz Puts National Guard On Standby After ICE Shooting In Minneapolis

ST. PAUL, MN — Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday directed state agencies to mobilize public safety resources and ordered the Minnesota National Guard to prepare for possible deployment.

Walz said the move is intended to support public safety efforts in the Twin Cities as tensions rise after an ICE agent shot and killed a woman in south Minneapolis.

Walz said his administration is applying lessons learned from the civil unrest that followed the killing of George Floyd in 2020.

“Our top priority is keeping Minnesotans safe,” Walz told reporters. “State and local leaders are taking every step to support law enforcement and protect residents, and state resources have been deployed to ensure our neighborhoods remain safe.”

The State Emergency Operations Center has been activated to coordinate the state’s response and ensure resources are positioned efficiently.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is jointly investigating the shooting with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Because the incident involved a federal law enforcement officer, the BCA cannot investigate the case on its own and must work in coordination with federal authorities.

State leadership at the emergency operations center is coordinating with the Minneapolis and St. Paul police departments, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Minnesota National Guard.

The Minnesota State Patrol has mobilized 85 members of its Mobile Response Team to support law enforcement operations in the Twin Cities. The National Guard remains on standby and prepared to deploy if requested to assist with public safety and emergency response efforts.

Walz also criticized the federal immigration enforcement operation that preceded the shooting, saying state officials had warned that the mobilization could put residents at risk.

“We have repeatedly warned that this federal mobilization was putting residents at risk,” Walz said. “I encourage Minnesotans to remain calm. This mobilization was about putting on a show from the beginning. Let’s not give it to them.”

State officials said the emergency operations center will continue overseeing response efforts and coordinating the National Guard, State Patrol, and other agencies to respond quickly to potential threats and maintain public safety.