Tim Walz tells Americans to stop calling ICE agents ‘law enforcement’

Walz made the remarks during a press conference addressing the incident, saying he had spoken directly with the White House and called for federal agents to be removed from the area.

“I spoke with the president's chief of staff. And first request was to get her people out of there, to get these federal agents out of there. They were going to cause more chaos,” Walz said. “Second call is with no uncertain terms that we will investigate this. We will not be stonewalled.”

Walz criticized President Donald Trump and federal immigration enforcement more broadly, saying public pressure would be required to end current operations.

“This will end when enough Americans say this will end. Do I have any confidence Donald Trump will do the right thing? No, I don't have a lot of confidence Donald Trump will do the right thing. I do have a lot of confidence that the majority of the American people will do the right thing, and I think there cannot be very many people across this country looking right now after all the reporting that's been done, after everything that's been said under the pretense that they are here about immigration reform,” Walz said.

The governor then directly challenged the classification of ICE agents as law enforcement, saying, “Quit referring to these people as law enforcement. They are not law enforcement. We have law enforcement who do an incredible job, and to listen to Greg Bovino denigrate the work of our people who are out there cleaning up their mess, no, I don't have a lot of confidence that he himself will do it, but here's what I do have confidence in. There's a whole lot of Republicans for whatever reason cannot find their spine. But they might find the ability to know that they're not going to win another election as long as they live unless they stand up for what's right and stand up for the rule of law and stand up for human decency, and that's the moment right now.”

ICE agents are not police officers, but the agency is classified as a federal law enforcement body under the Department of Homeland Security. ICE agents are sworn federal officers with authority to detain and arrest individuals, carry firearms, and use necessary force in the course of their duties.

Walz activated the National Guard on Saturday in the wake of the shooting, also saying that his state would be billing the federal government for the cost.