By J Robert Smith
- Jan. 16, 2026
- 3-min read
Minnesota governor Tim Walz made a speech the other night claiming that ICE was brutalizing Minnesotans and occupying Minneapolis. He said he wants both to end. Democrats are all about narratives. In other words, concocting self-serving versions of events for highly personal or partisan reasons.
Walz has plenty to worry about. Not only is the massive Somali fraud that’s resulted in billions of federal taxpayer money stolen costing him his reelection bid, but the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Walz and other Minnesota Democrat officials to determine if they’re culpable in any way.
Walz is trying to distract from his troubles. Moreover, immigrant populations – illegal or legal – have become the lifeblood of the Democrat Party. Though Minnesota is a Democrat state, it’s lighter blue. Republicans control the state house. A capable GOP candidate for statewide office can usually count on a vote tally in the high 40-percent range. That makes Republicans competitive. Democrats need the Somali voting bloc to help keep their grip on statewide offices. Walz is protecting an important bloc in his party’s voting base. He’s happy to overlook crime among Somalis.
Then there’s Jacob Frey, the mayor of Minneapolis, who famously told ICE to get the f**k out of Minneapolis. Understand that ICE isn’t causing any problems in Frey’s city. They’re rooting out and arresting Somali criminals, among others.
In Florida, for example, ICE is working closely with state and local law enforcement to quietly and successfully roundup hardcore criminals among illegals – and, yes, arrest and deport those who are in the U.S. illegally. Florida governor Ron DeSantis is seeing to it.
Per a Grok (X platform) search and analysis:
ICE’s Operation Metro Surge, launched in late 2025 in Minneapolis, has resulted in over 2,000 arrests nationwide, with a focus on the Twin Cities area due to its sanctuary policies. Among those arrested are individuals from various countries, including Somalia, prioritized for criminal convictions or outstanding deportation orders. DHS and ICE have publicly highlighted the “worst of the worst” cases, emphasizing arrests of those convicted of serious crimes like homicide, sexual assault, child abuse, drug trafficking, and fraud. Of the 212 individuals classified as the most dangerous in Minnesota operations, 20 are from Somalia (about 10%), behind Mexico (91) and Honduras (22). Nationwide, 117 people with Somali citizenship were arrested in the initial phase, with 28 in Minnesota.
Walz, Frey, and Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison have been careful about not calling for outright resistance to federal law enforcement. That would be insurrection. Though they couch their words, their actions indicate attempts at public incitement. They’ve withheld not only state and local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, but have allowed rabble to run Minneapolis’ streets – as in individuals who are committing acts of violence toward federal law enforcement and property destruction. We’re not talking about peaceful, lawful protests, which are a 1st Amendment right.
President Trump is walking a tightrope. Lately, polling suggests that independent voters and moderates are backing off supporting his immigration enforcement efforts. Republicans aren’t, however. The midterm elections are critically important. Republicans holding Congress matters to the final two years of Trump’s term. If enough independents are motivated to vote against Republican House and Senate candidates this autumn, that makes Trump a 24-month lame duck.
Yet, upholding the law matters greatly. Somalis shouldn’t be given passes, having committed fraud on an historic scale. Drug dealers, gangbangers, rapists, child sex traffickers, fraudsters, and thieves, among others, need to be brought to justice. Those here illegally need to be deported.
Perhaps Trump’s solution is to pursue justice and work like hell to get Republicans to the polls this autumn? Perhaps, leadership, resolve, and fighting for a safer America and justice wins votes?