Vice President JD Vance to visit Minneapolis, source says, amid unrest over ICE operations
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Vice President JD Vance is set to visit Minnesota on Thursday, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to Fox News, as tensions remain high about federal immigration enforcement operations there. The source said Vance will deliver remarks and hold a roundtable with local leaders and community members in Minneapolis. A White House official told Fox News on Wednesday that “the Vice President will highlight the Administration’s commitment to restoring law and order in Minneapolis.” The official added that Vance will meet with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while in Minnesota “to reinforce the White House’s unwavering support for federal immigration officials.” MINNESOTA DEMOCRATS CRITICIZE DOJ SUBPOENAS, CLAIM WEAPONIZATION OF JUSTICE SYSTEM “In his remarks, the Vice President will point out how Minneapolis’s sanctuary city policies have degraded public safety and endangered ICE officers. He will also celebrate the essential work ICE agents have done to take dangerous, criminal illegal aliens off of America’s streets,” the White House official said. Vance’s trip comes as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz invited President Donald Trump to visit his state. “Mr. President, Minnesota invites you to see our values in action. Come see how communities from all walks of life are working together, and how the spirit of this state refuses to be defined by division or fear,” Walz wrote in a statement shared on X on Tuesday. “I invite you to join me, and others in our community, to help restore calm and order and reaffirm that true public safety comes from shared purpose, trust, and respect,” Walz added. Walz and other prominent Minnesota Democrats, including state Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, were served Tuesday with subpoenas from the Justice Department over an alleged conspiracy to obstruct or impede federal law enforcement during ongoing ICE operations. FBI DIRECTOR PATEL WARNS ELECTED OFFICIALS ‘NO ONE’ IS EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL SCRUTINY AMID MINNESOTA PROBE The state has become a flash point in the national debate over federal immigration enforcement following the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. “Many of you have been told this law enforcement officer wasn’t hit by a car, wasn’t being harassed, and murdered an innocent woman. The reality is that his life was endangered, and he fired in self-defense,” Vance wrote in an X post about the shooting earlier this month. In another post, Vance said, “This is an extremely important point: you’re only seeing chaotic ICE raids in blue sanctuary cities where local officials are fighting against federal law enforcement.” And at a White House news briefing earlier this month, the vice president claimed that Good had been “brainwashed” and argued that the Minneapolis mother of three had links to a “broader, left-wing network.” The vice president was previously in Minnesota in September, in the wake of a mass shooting at a Minneapolis-area Catholic Church. Vance is expected to stop earlier on Thursday in his home state of Ohio. The vice president’s office announced that Vance would travel to an industrial shipping facility in Toledo to deliver remarks about the administration’s efforts to lower prices.
Who is Lisa Cook? The Fed governor at the center of Trump’s Supreme Court fight
Lisa Cook’s ascension to the Federal Reserve was historic from the start. Appointed by former President Joe Biden in 2022, she became the first Black woman to serve as a Fed board governor, the seven-member panel that sets national interest rates and oversees the banking system. Now, she stands at the center of another historic moment, as President Donald Trump attempts to fire her — a move the Federal Reserve has never faced in its 112-year history. TRUMP VS THE FEDERAL RESERVE: HOW THE CLASH REACHED UNCHARTED TERRITORY Cook’s legal fight traces back to late August, when Trump said he was firing her from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. He alleged she misrepresented information tied to a trio of mortgages she obtained before joining the central bank. Cook has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime. She sued Trump in federal court in Washington, D.C., to block her removal. On Sept. 9, a district court judge barred Trump from firing her while the case proceeds, a decision later upheld by a federal appeals court. FEDERAL RESERVE GOVERNOR LISA COOK SUES TRUMP Before joining the Fed board, the Oxford alumna and UC Berkeley–trained economist built a career in academia, including faculty roles at Harvard University and Michigan State University. A graduate of Spelman College, Cook has been described by American economist Barry Eichengreen as “part economist and historian,” with command of several languages, including French, Russian, Spanish and Wolof — a widely spoken language in Senegal. Cook has also held senior roles in government, serving as a senior economist on then-President Barack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers from 2011 to 2012. Before that, she served as a senior adviser on finance and development in the Treasury Department’s Office of International Affairs. She joined the Fed board in May 2022 and was reappointed in September 2023 for a term that runs through January 2038, a tenure now under scrutiny as the Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments Wednesday. The court is expected to issue a ruling by this summer.
Trump tells Davos US alone can secure Greenland, insists he won’t ‘use force’
President Donald Trump declared from Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday that the U.S. is the only nation that is in the position to control and secure Greenland. “All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland,” Trump said Wednesday from his speech at the World Economic Forum. “Where we’ve already had it as a trustee, but respectfully returned it back to Denmark not long ago after we defeated the Germans, the Japanese, the Italians and others in World War II, we gave it back to them.” Trump added that he does not want to use force as he pressures NATO allies on Greenland. “We never asked for anything,” Trump said of the U.S. working with NATO. “And we never got anything. We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force where we would be, frankly, unstoppable. But I won’t do that. Okay, now everyone say, ‘oh good.’ That’s probably the biggest statement I made because people thought I would use force. I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.” DAVOS BRACES FOR TRUMP AMID TENSIONS OVER NATO, GREENLAND AND GLOBAL DEFENSE Greenland — the world’s largest island — sits in the Arctic and governs its own domestic affairs while remaining within the Kingdom of Denmark. The president said he has “tremendous respect for both the people of Greenland and the people of Denmark,” but that the U.S. must control the island from a national security standpoint. “And the fact is, no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the United States, with a great power much greater than people even understand,” he said. The White House has reiterated that Trump views Greenland as a national security priority, and officials have not ruled out the use of the U.S. military as the administration weighs options for acquiring the territory. Trump was asked Tuesday, the one-year anniversary of his inauguration, how far he would go to Greenland, responding with a terse “you’ll find out” response. The president described Greenland as a vast, almost entirely uninhabited and undeveloped territory that’s sitting undefended in a key strategic location between the United States, Russia and China. He pushed back that the U.S. is not seeking to acquire Greenland for its rare earths, but due to its location from a national security standpoint. “This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America on the northern frontier of the Western Hemisphere,” he said. “That’s our territory. It is, therefore, a core national security interest of the United States of America.” Trump said securing Greenland would only strengthen NATO. “This would not be a threat to NATO,” he said. “This would greatly enhance the security of the entire alliance. The NATO alliance. The United States is treated very unfairly by NATO. I want to tell you that. And when you think about it, nobody can dispute it. We give so much, and we get so little in return. And I’ve been a critic of NATO for many years, and yet I’ve done more to help NATO than any other president by far, than any other person. You wouldn’t have NATO if I didn’t get involved.” NEWSOM WARNS ‘PATHETIC’ FOREIGN LEADERS TO GROW A BACKBONE IN BIZARRE TAKEDOWN LIKENING TRUMP TO A T.REX The president argued that U.S. control of Greenland would strengthen security for both the United States and Europe, framing the territory as a strategic necessity rather than a real-estate acquisition. “The European Union needs us to have it, and they know that,” he said, before pivoting to other topics. Greenland has long carried outsized military importance in the Arctic. During the Cold War, the island sat along the shortest air and missile routes between North America and the Soviet Union. The U.S. expanded operations at the air base now known as Pituffik Space Base, using the site for early-warning radar and surveillance designed to detect incoming bombers and missiles. “Now our country and the world face much greater risks than it did ever before. Because of missiles, because of nuclear, because of weapons, of warfare that I can’t even talk about,” Trump continued of Greenland. In more recent years, renewed U.S. interest has been tied to intensifying great-power competition in the Arctic. Officials and analysts have pointed to China’s effort to widen its regional footprint. Trump underscored that the U.S. is “stronger” than ever and is in the position to finalize a Greenland deal following “two centuries” of previous presidents reportedly trying to do the same. “For two centuries they’ve been trying to do it. They should have kept it after World War II, but they had a different president. That’s all right. People think differently. Much more necessary now than it was at that time. However, in 2019, Denmark said that they would spend over $200 million to strengthen Greenland’s defenses. But as you know, they spent less than 1% of that amount. 1% is no sign of Denmark there,” the president continued. FORMER REP. MTG DUMPS COLD WATER ON TRUMP’S GREENLAND ACQUISITION AMBITIONS: ‘WE’VE HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE’ Trump first publicly raised the idea of acquiring Greenland in 2019. The Arctic’s geography makes it a key corridor for long-range threats from major adversaries, elevating Greenland’s value as a location for sensors and tracking systems intended to protect North America. Trump put European allies on notice to reach a deal on the island by Feb. 1 or face consequences. Goods from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom will face a 10% tariff if no deal is reached by February, with the taxes increasing to 25% by June 1 if there is no deal. European leaders at Davos largely treated Trump’s Greenland-linked tariff threats as economic coercion. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, for example, said Greenland is “non-negotiable” and that the EU would show “full solidarity” with Greenland. “In politics as in
Air Force One turns around shortly after takeoff for Trump’s trip to Switzerland
Air Force One was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews shortly after takeoff Tuesday evening with President Donald Trump aboard, the White House said. The crew experienced a “minor electrical issue” after takeoff at 10:20 p.m. and returned “out of an abundance of caution,” according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Trump was en route to Davos, Switzerland, to attend the World Economic Forum. Air Force One landed at Joint Base Andrews at 11:07 pm. The president is expected to board a different aircraft and continue on to Switzerland. Leavitt joked aboard Air Force One that a Qatari jet sounded “much better” at the moment. The lights in the press cabin briefly went out after takeoff, reporters on board said. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Former Trump lawyer accuses federal judge of making ‘baseless accusations of lying’ after departure
The interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia left her post after completing a 120-day appointment amid a legal standoff in which a federal judge questioned her authority, declined to appoint a successor and triggered an appeal over separation of powers. Former Trump lawyer Lindsey Halligan announced her departure Tuesday, saying a federal judge ruled in November that her appointment was invalid and that only the district court had the authority to name an interim successor following Erik Siebert’s exit. She said the ruling led the court to treat her appointment as disqualifying, including striking her name from court filings. FEDERAL JUDGE CALLS COMEY INDICTMENT INTO QUESTION, ASKS IF HALLIGAN IS A ‘PUPPET’ FOR TRUMP “I was subjected to baseless accusations of lying to a tribunal and making false or misleading statements,” Halligan wrote. “I was ordered to respond to sua sponte orders and to personally sign filings explaining why my name appeared on pleadings, diverting time and resources from public safety responsibilities. Assistant U.S. Attorneys were told in open court that I should resign.” She said that even after declaring her appointment invalid, the district court did not take the step its own reading of the law required by appointing a new U.S. attorney to fill the role. BONDI TARGETS JAMES COMEY, LETITIA JAMES IN LEGAL BATTLE: ‘HOLD…ACCOUNTABLE FOR UNLAWFUL CONDUCT’ Instead, she said the court treated her as though she had been removed by striking her name from filings and declaring her appointment unlawful, while taking no action to fill what it said was an existing vacancy. “In short, the court took no action to fill the vacancy it said already existed,” Halligan wrote. “The result was a vacuum: the Executive Branch was told it lacked appointment authority, and the Judiciary declined to exercise the authority it claimed was exclusively its own. That contradiction is now on appeal.” COMEY AND JAMES CHALLENGE TRUMP APPOINTEE’S LEGITIMACY IN FEDERAL COURT HEARING Attorney General Pam Bondi praised Halligan’s tenure as interim U.S. attorney, saying she served with distinction and focused on prosecuting violent offenders to protect Eastern Virginia’s more than six million residents. “Democratic Senators weaponized the blue slip process, making it impossible for Lindsey’s term as United States Attorney to continue following the expiration of her 120-day appointment,” Bondi wrote on X. “Despite multiple, unnecessary legal obstacles placed in her path, Lindsey stepped forward at a critical juncture for our Nation and fulfilled her responsibilities with courage and resolve.” “Her departure is a significant loss for the Department of Justice and the communities she served,” Bondi continued. “While we will feel her absence keenly, we are confident that she will continue to serve her country in other ways.” Bondi said the circumstances surrounding Halligan’s departure were “deeply misguided,” adding that the Justice Department would continue seeking review of decisions she said, “hinder our ability to keep the American people safe.”
House passes AI education bill for small businesses in landslide 395-14 vote
The House of Representatives passed a bill that would require the government to create more access to artificial intelligence (AI) education for small businesses Tuesday evening. The AI for Main Street Act passed with broad bipartisan support in a 395-14 vote. Eleven Republicans and three Democrats voted against the measure. “Main Street stands at the doorstep of a major transformation because the AI revolution isn’t just coming, it’s already here,” Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., the bill’s sponsor, said in a statement after its passage. “We’re ensuring entrepreneurs and job creators aren’t left behind. Our AI for Main Street Act will provide small businesses with the resources, education and training needed to responsibly utilize artificial intelligence.” CHINA RACES AHEAD ON AI; TRUMP WARNS AMERICA CAN’T REGULATE ITSELF INTO DEFEAT The AI for Main Street Act would direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) and its Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to help startups learn to adopt AI technology by providing training and outreach. The bill fits into the preexisting framework of the SBDCs. According to the SBA, SBDCs exist to help small businesses access capital, exchange information on new technologies, improve business planning, and manage finances and personnel administration. AI COULD DRIVE US UNEMPLOYMENT TO 20%, SENATORS WARN AS NEW BILL TARGETS JOB TRACKING The SBA says it has at least 900 service locations that coordinate 62 SBDC centers nationwide. The bill does not allocate any additional funding for its new directives on AI. Alford said he feared that much larger companies would quickly integrate AI technologies while smaller enterprises would struggle to adopt new tools and get left behind. “We want small business owners to understand not only what AI can do, but how to use it securely, safely, ethically and effectively,” Alford said in a floor speech on his bill. “This bill is about empowering people, not replacing them. I’m proud to see the House pass our bipartisan bill to champion small businesses,” Alford added. The bill, having cleared the House, heads to the Senate for consideration.
Nationwide walkout draws thousands into streets on anniversary of Trump’s inauguration
Thousands of people across the country flooded the streets on Tuesday in a mass walkout protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement, marking exactly one year since Donald Trump was sworn in for his second presidential term. The walkout, dubbed the “Free America Walkout” is spearheaded by the Women’s March, the same group that mobilized millions of protesters against Trump’s first administration in 2017. According to its website, organizers urged people to walk out of schools, workplaces and businesses around 2 p.m. local time as part of the “Free America” movement, with the aim to “withhold our labor, our participation, and our consent.” Videos of the scene captured dozens of protesters converging in major metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, New York City, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C, as part of the coordinated demonstrations. ANTI-ICE AGITATOR WHO STORMED MINNESOTA CHURCH SERVICE ALSO HARASSED CONGREGANTS AT PETE HEGSETH’S CHURCH In some areas, high school students walked out of school during snowy conditions, exercising their political voice despite being too young to vote. Ahead of the planned walkouts, principals at several schools reportedly notified parents and arranged supervision for the protests, according to the Virginia news outlet LoudounNow. In other cities, crowds of demonstrators filled streets and public spaces in protests that were largely orderly and peaceful. In New York City, for example, demonstrators marched to the area outside Trump Tower, chanting slogans and holding signs calling for changes to federal policies. Organizers accused the Trump administration of being “fascist” after the president deployed thousands of ICE agents and other federal troops to major cities in an escalated crackdown on illegal immigration. “One year into Trump’s second regime, we face an escalating fascist threat: ICE raids on our communities, troops occupying our cities, families torn apart, attacks on our trans siblings, mass surveillance, and terror used to keep us silent,” the group said on its website. “It is time for our communities to escalate as well.” PROMINENT CATHOLIC BISHOP SLAMS ANTI-ICE AGITATORS WHO DISRUPTED MN CHURCH SERVICE: ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ The organizers of the protest said that holding the walkout on a weekday allows the demonstration to have a greater impact by disrupting the normal routine of schools, workplaces and public life. “A walkout interrupts business as usual,” the website for the march said. “It makes visible how much our labor, participation, and cooperation are taken for granted — and what happens when we withdraw them together.” Trump’s immigration agenda has sparked widespread outrage, particularly after an ICE agent fatally shot 37‑year‑old Renee Nicole Good while her vehicle blocked a Minneapolis immigration enforcement operation. The killing has since intensified scrutiny over the use of force in the administration’s crackdown.
Bondi vows accountability after church attack, says Minnesota ‘a mess right now’
Attorney General Pam Bondi warned Tuesday that “no one is above the law” as the Department of Justice (DOJ) increases its presence in Minnesota following weeks of unrest, escalating tensions tied to immigration enforcement and the disruption of a church service Sunday. Bondi made the comments in an exclusive interview with Fox News in Minneapolis, where she met with federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials amid what she described as ongoing chaos in the state. “No one is above the law in this state or in this country, and people will be held accountable,” Bondi told Fox News. Bondi said conditions in Minnesota have deteriorated in past weeks, citing constant unrest and concerns for officer safety. WHITE HOUSE SAYS WALZ, FREY INCITED CHAOS AFTER ANTI-ICE MOB STORMS MINNEAPOLIS CHURCH “This state is a mess right now,” she said. “We’ve seen the chaos, and it’s constant. And our men and women in law enforcement deserve to be safe.” Bondi said she met with federal agents from the FBI, DEA and ATF, as well as U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, emphasizing coordination among federal agencies as tensions continue. “We have a great U.S. attorney, and we are all going to fight together,” she said. “That’s why it was so important to be here.” NOEM HAMMERS WALZ, FREY FOR IGNORING 1,360 ICE DETAINERS FOR CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS Bondi arrived after Minnesota officials, including the governor, mayor and state attorney general, confirmed they had received federal subpoenas. Asked whether those subpoenas signal an investigation into their offices, Bondi declined to provide details. “I can’t confirm nor deny whether we have any investigation or what it is,” Bondi said. “I can’t discuss.” When pressed on whether rhetoric from state and local leaders has contributed to unrest, Bondi said inflammatory language can have consequences but iterated that accountability applies universally. “Rhetoric causes people to get hurt and injured, and that shouldn’t be happening,” she said. “Whether it’s a public official, whether it’s a law enforcement officer, no one is above the law in this state or in this country, and people will be held accountable.” Bondi also addressed Sunday’s disruption of a church service in St. Paul, calling the incident “horrific” and saying such conduct should never occur at any place of worship. MINNEAPOLIS PASTOR CALLS ON FAITHFUL TO BE ‘LIGHT IN THE DARK’ AFTER ANTI-ICE AGITATORS STORM CHURCH “What happened in that church was horrific,” Bondi said. “That should not happen to any Christian, to any religion, to a synagogue, to a mosque, to any place of worship in our country.” Bondi said she has spoken directly with Pastor Jonathan Parnell and plans to meet with him. “That should not happen,” she said. “And it was horrific.” In a statement after the Jan. 18 incident, Parnell said a group of agitators disrupted the worship service, accosted members of the congregation and frightened children, describing the conduct as “shameful” and “unlawful.” “Invading a church service to disrupt the worship of Jesus — or any other act of worship — is protected by neither the Christian Scriptures nor the laws of this nation,” Parnell wrote, adding that church buildings are meant to be places of peace and refuge. Parnell said the church is evaluating next steps with legal counsel and called on local, state and national leaders to protect the fundamental right to worship freely. Asked whether Minnesotans should expect continued federal involvement following her visit, Bondi answered unequivocally. “President Trump is committed to making Minnesota safe,” she said. “So, the answer is yes.”
Clinton spokesman lashes out at Comer over Epstein probe as contempt vote nears
A top spokesperson for former President Bill Clinton sharply accused House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., of misrepresenting negotiations in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, insisting the Clintons never rejected sworn testimony or transcripts as the committee prepares to vote on contempt. Angel Ureña, deputy chief of staff to the former president, said Comer was using a dispute over testimony format as a pretext to move toward contempt proceedings. Ureña’s remarks came after Comer accused the Clintons of defying bipartisan subpoenas and demanding limits on testimony that would bar other lawmakers and prevent the creation of an official transcript. “We never said no to a transcript. Interviews are on the record and under oath,” he wrote on X. “Whether it was written or typed isn’t why this is happening. If that were the last or only issue, we’d be in a different position. You keep misdirecting to protect you-know-who and God knows what.” TOP GOP CHAIR ISSUES STARK WARNING TO CLINTONS IF THEY DEFY DEPOSITIONS IN EPSTEIN INVESTIGATION Comer said the Clintons’ attorneys made what he described as an untenable offer while the committee was moving toward contempt proceedings. “Facing contempt of Congress, the Clintons’ lawyers made an untenable offer: that I travel to New York for a conversation with President Clinton only,” Comer wrote on X. “No official transcript would be recorded and other members of Congress would be barred from participating. I have rejected the Clintons’ ridiculous offer.” Comer also accused the Clintons of seeking preferential treatment and failing to comply with lawful subpoenas. BILL, HILLARY CLINTON RISK CRIMINAL CONTEMPT CHARGES AFTER DEFYING HOUSE SUBPOENAS IN EPSTEIN PROBE “The Clintons’ latest demands make clear they believe their last name entitles them to special treatment,” he wrote. “The House Oversight Committee’s bipartisan subpoenas require the Clintons to appear for depositions that are under oath and transcribed.” The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is examining what the Clintons may have known about Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, including scrutiny of Hillary’s role overseeing U.S. efforts to combat international sex trafficking while serving as secretary of state. Comer said the lack of a formal record would undermine public accountability as the investigation moves forward. JON STEWART SAYS CLINTONS SHOULD ‘ABSOLUTELY’ COMPLY WITH CONGRESSIONAL SUBPOENAS ON EPSTEIN “The absence of an official transcript is an indefensible demand that is insulting to the American people who demand answers about Epstein’s crimes,” Comer wrote. Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, who serves on the House Oversight Committee, told Fox News the panel bent over backward to accommodate the Clintons and said their refusal to comply with subpoenas left the committee no choice but to pursue contempt. “We’ve seen multiple pictures of Bill Clinton with Epstein victims on Epstein’s plane engaged in all kinds of things that look quite unsavory, and I think the American people want answers, and they want to know what a former U.S. president was doing with this disgusting pedophile,” Gill said. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Clinton Foundation for comment on the matter.
DHS says ICE agents rammed by vehicles amid Minneapolis enforcement surge: ‘Aggressively assaulted’
Federal immigration officials said Tuesday that Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have faced escalating violence in Minneapolis, including vehicle ramming incidents as recently as “today” and “yesterday,” during a major enforcement operation targeting criminal illegal aliens in the Twin Cities. “I believe we had a vehicle ramming today. We had one yesterday,” said Greg Bovino, who was identified to the assembled media during a scheduled Department of Homeland Security (DHS) news conference as the commander at large for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) assets in the Twin Cities. Bovino said two suspects “decided that it would be a good idea to ram Border Patrol agents and then take off,” adding that a civilian vehicle was also struck during one of the incidents. He said both suspects were apprehended. No additional details were released. The briefing came amid fiery protests, political pushback and scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis after the death of Renee Nicole Good on Jan. 7. OMAR, MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR ACCUSE TRUMP ADMIN OF UNLEASHING ‘POLITICAL RETRIBUTION,’ ‘INVASION’ WITH ICE ACTIVITY Bovino appeared alongside Marcos Charles, acting executive associate director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, as DHS officials outlined what they described as a sharp increase in arrests, mounting confrontations and resistance from local leaders during Operation Metro Surge. Bovino said the operation is focused on public safety and violent offenders, rejecting claims that enforcement actions are random or politically motivated. “Our operations are lawful, they’re targeted and they’re focused on individuals who pose a serious threat to this community,” Bovino said. “They are not random, and they are not political.” WHITE HOUSE SAYS WALZ, FREY INCITED CHAOS AFTER ANTI-ICE MOB STORMS MINNEAPOLIS CHURCH He accused Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of using “heated rhetoric” that he said has contributed to a hostile environment for federal agents. “Leaders like Tim Walz or Mayor Frey have relied on heated rhetoric and accusations that distract from the facts,” Bovino said. “The facts are that federal agents are arresting murderers, rapists, child predators, cartel-connected criminals.” Bovino said federal officers have been “violently and aggressively assaulted,” with objects thrown and vehicles damaged since the operation began, though enforcement efforts have continued. DOJ SERVES GRAND JURY SUBPOENAS TO MINNESOTA DEMS IN INVESTIGATION OF ICE OBSTRUCTION: SOURCES Bovino listed several cases he said occurred as recently as the previous day, including what he described as a registered sex offender convicted of crimes against a child and other individuals charged with rape, domestic assault and other violent offenses. Bovino also referenced the recent disruption of a church service during an anti-ICE protest. “Do we like what happened with the church there a couple of days ago when individuals came in and disrupted almost violently a church service? Absolutely not,” Bovino said. The Justice Department has launched a civil rights investigation into the disruption at a Minneapolis-area church after protesters stormed a service over a perceived ICE connection Sunday. Bovino rejected a reporter’s claims during a Q&A, saying agents act in a manner he described as a “legal, ethical and moral” manner and arguing that confrontations often involve agitators rather than random civilians. “Oftentimes, it’s agitators, rioters, anarchists that place mom-and-pop America near very tense situations when they shouldn’t even be,” Bovino said. Asked about the status of the officer involved in the Jan. 7 shooting of Good, Charles said the officer is “recovering at home,” but he did not answer whether the officer remains on administrative leave or involved in the operation. Walz and Frey’s offices, as well as the Minneapolis Police Department, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.