AG Bondi sends extortion-tinged letter to MN Gov. Tim Walz demanding he turn over sensitive voter info in exchange for reducing federal ICE presence in Minneapolis

United States Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter dated January 24, 2026  to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz using thinly-veiled language to demand he turn over sensitive data about his state’s residents in exchange for stopping the violent, masked and aggressive onslaught of ICE agents who are wreaking havoc in Minneapolis. The letter makes it clear the federal government’s armed, paramilitary invasion of Minneapolis has less to do with immigration than it does with government surveillance.

Bondi sent the letter to Walz after federal agents murdered two American citizens inside three weeks on the streets of Minneapolis who were monitoring the activities of ICE agents in their area. Federal officials accused both victims of committing crimes and being “domestic terrorists,” but offered no proof. Video evidence has refuted the federal government’s claims.

In the letter, Bondi tells Walz he can “restore the rule of law” and “bring an end to the chaos in Minnesota,” adding that “there are common sense solutions to these problems” and Walz “can help bring back law and order to Minnesota” if he just meets three demands:

— Share with the federal government the records of all people in Minnesota who are on Medicaid, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and other food aid programs;

— End state policies that limit the extent to which the state shares information about immigrants, and

— Give the federal government access to Minnesota’s voter rolls.

Here is the full text of Pam Bondi’s letter:
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January 24, 2026

Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

Governor Walz,

The State of Minnesota has refused to enforce the law, and the consequences are heartbreaking. Americans are watching politicians ignore federal immigration law, criminals attack federal law enforcement, and rioters storm church services. I write to urge a change.

In December 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched Operation Metro Surge to protect Americans from the dangers presented by unchecked illegal immigration, including violent crime and drug trafficking. Since the beginning of this operation, law enforcement has put themselves in harm’s way to arrest dangerous criminals, including members of notorious, violent gangs. Criminal illegal aliens convicted of homicide, drug trafficking, sexual assault against a child, rape with a weapon, and other horrific crimes are now off the streets because of Operation Metro Surge.

Unfortunately, you and other Minnesota officials have refused to support the men and women risking their lives to protect Americans and uphold the rule of law. Because Minnesota, Minneapolis, and St. Paul have chosen to ignore federal immigration law by enacting sanctuary laws and policies, the federal agents led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have operated alone. And politicians in your state are not just refusing to help these agents — they are putting federal agents in danger. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said, “ICE: Get the f*** out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here.”

The results of your state’s policies and politicians’ anti-law enforcement rhetoric are a national tragedy. Violence against ICE officers and agents has increased approximately 1,300 percent. Vehicular attacks against ICE officers have increased 3,200 percent. Perhaps most disappointing, the lawlessness caused by these policies has bled into sacred spaces of worship. Parishioners were met by an anti-ICE mob last weekend, as several dozen individuals stormed Cities Church in Minneapolis to interrupt worship services and scream in the faces of frightened Christians and their families. The violence against our officers and the violations of religious liberties cannot be allowed to continue.

The lawlessness in the streets is matched by the unprecedented financial fraud occurring on your watch. And the out-of-control fraud in your state also implicates election security. It is a tragedy that Americans have lost faith in Minnesota’s ability to keep its taxpayers’ funds secure and its citizens safe.

You and your office must restore the rule of law, support ICE officers, and bring an end to the chaos in Minnesota. Fortunately, there are common-sense solutions to these problems that I hope we can accomplish together.

First, share all of Minnesota’s records on Medicaid and Food and Nutrition Service programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program data, with the federal government. Allowing the federal government to efficiently investigate fraud will save Minnesota taxpayers’ money and ensure that Minnesota’s welfare funds are being used to help those in need, not enrich fraudsters.

Second, repeal the sanctuary policies that have led to so much crime and violence in your state. Removing criminal illegal aliens from Minnesota neighborhoods will save lives, and state and local officials should support this goal. All detention facilities in your state should cooperate fully with ICE, honor immigration detainers, and permit ICE to interview detainees in custody to determine immigration status. I urge you to reach an agreement with ICE that allows them to remove illegal aliens in custody of Minnesota’s prisons and jails and avoids pushing these interactions into your streets.

Third, allow the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice to access voter rolls to confirm that Minnesota’s voter registration practices comply with federal law as authorized by the Civil Rights Act of 1960. Fulfilling this common-sense request will better guarantee free and fair elections and boost confidence in the rule of law.

I am confident that these simple steps will help bring back law and order to Minnesota and improve the lives of Americans.

The time has come for state and local officials in your state to change course. As the chief law enforcement officer of the United States, I am committed to enforcing federal immigration laws and keeping every American safe. Minnesota can and should be a partner with this administration. Do not obstruct federal immigration enforcement; do not allow rioters to take over the streets and houses of worship; do not hinder federal officials from investigating financial fraud and violations of election laws. Whether state and local politicians stand in the way or not, we will work every day to protect Americans and make Minnesota Safe Again. I request that you join us in that effort.

Sincerely,

Pamela Bondi

Attorney General

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You can see Bondi’s original letter on government letterhead to Gov. Walz here.