Vice President J.D. Vance visited Minneapolis on Thursday to call for local cooperation with ICE enforcement amid ongoing federal immigration operations that have sparked protests and tensions in the city. Vance said better collaboration between local officials and federal authorities could help reduce chaos and make enforcement safer.
During a news conference, Vance reiterated that his goal was to โlower the temperatureโ in Minneapolis, which has seen weeks of unrest tied to aggressive immigration enforcement actions, including large deployments of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The vice president said state and local officials must help federal authorities better coordinate their efforts.
Minneapolis has become a focal point of controversy after federal ICE operations intensified in recent weeks. Critics of the crackdown โ including local leaders and activists โ have raised concerns over tactics used during arrests and reported clashes between enforcement agents and community members.
While acknowledging the chaotic situation on the ground, Vance blamed much of the unrest on what he described as a โfailure of cooperationโ between federal immigration authorities and state and local officials. โWe can do a good job enforcing immigration laws without the chaos, but it actually requires cooperation of state and local officials,โ he said.
Vance emphasized that the presence of federal agents does not have to lead to disorder. He said federal law enforcement officers are dedicated to doing their jobs effectively and safely, but they need support from local police to avoid dangerous situations during enforcement operations.
The vice president defended ICE officers and federal law enforcement, saying they have faced difficult conditions and that criticisms should not undermine lawful enforcement. Vance also praised the arrest of protesters who disrupted a church service in the area, stressing that the right to protest should be exercised peacefully.
Vanceโs comments come against the backdrop of protests and political pushback from Minnesotaโs Democratic officials. Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have criticized the federal crackdown and have emphasized public safety and community trust over extensive federal enforcement operations. Walz has described some federal actions as politically motivated and counterproductive.
Despite the tension, Vance expressed some optimism about future collaboration. He suggested that improved communication and cooperation between federal and local authorities could ease hostilities and make enforcement operations more effective. โWe have a ton of resources, a ton of ICE agents in the city right now that I would rather us not have,โ he said, adding that better federal-local coordination might reduce the need for a heavy federal presence.
Local law enforcement leaders, however, have maintained that they are obligated to enforce state and local laws and that their cooperation with federal immigration agents is bounded by legal and constitutional limits.
