US Justice Department probing Minnesota Democrats for purportedly obstructing ICE.

The United States Department of Justice is probing two notable liberal figures from Minnesota over alleged attempts to obstruct federal immigration enforcement, marking a significant intensification of tensions between Trump’s administration and Democratic leaders.

Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis’ Mayor Jacob Frey are under scrutiny relating to remarks made regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as reported by CBS News, a partner of the BBC in the US.

This investigation follows a federal judge’s ruling that restricted the actions of numerous federal law enforcement personnel in Minneapolis, preventing them from deploying pepper spray and arresting non-violent demonstrators.

Demonstrations have escalated in the city after 37-year-old Renee Good was shot dead by an ICE agent last week.

New information regarding Good’s death emerged on Friday. The Minneapolis resident was discovered by emergency medical personnel with at least three gunshot wounds, and possibly a fourth to her head, according to official documents reviewed by CBS.

In response to the inquiry news against him, Governor Walz tweeted on X: “Using the legal system as a weapon against your adversaries is a tactic of authoritarianism.

“The sole individual not under investigation for Renee Good’s shooting is the federal agent who shot her.”

Mayor Frey stated to the BBC, “I will not yield to intimidation”.

“This is a transparent attempt to intimidate me for defending Minneapolis, our local law enforcement, and our residents against the chaos and peril this Administration has inflicted upon our streets,” he noted.

The BBC has contacted the Department of Justice concerning the apparent investigation.

While urging Minnesotans to protest peacefully, the governor has faced accusations from Trump administration officials of using inflammatory language, such as referring to ICE as a “modern-day Gestapo”. Frey has called for immigration agents to leave Minneapolis.

The investigation centers on a federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 372, which criminalizes conspiring to obstruct federal officers from performing their official roles through “force, intimidation, or threats”, as per a US official’s statement to CBS.

Demonstrations persisted in Minneapolis on Friday as US District Judge Katherine Menendez prohibited federal agencies from using pepper spray and other non-lethal measures against demonstrators.

Her 83-page ruling stops the thousands of federal officers stationed in the city for immigration enforcement from detaining peaceful demonstrators.

It also restricts them from halting or apprehending individuals in vehicles unless “there is reasonable articulable suspicion that they are forcibly obstructing or interfering”.

The judge clarified that merely following federal law enforcement in a vehicle “does not, by itself, create reasonable suspicion to justify a vehicle stop”.

Prior to her death, footage captured Good in her SUV, seemingly honking the horn to warn neighbors of the immigration authorities’ presence.

The Trump administration argues that Good was obstructing federal law enforcement and attempted to run over the agent before he discharged his weapon. Local authorities maintain that Good was merely a legal observer who posed no threat.

Video footage shows ICE agents approaching a vehicle that was parked in the street and blocking traffic. An officer commands her to exit the vehicle.

As Good seemingly tries to flee by turning the wheel, her Honda Pilot SUV moves forward while one of the agents stands close to the vehicle’s front. He draws his weapon and fires.

An incident report from the Minneapolis Fire Department, reviewed by CBS News, indicated that when they arrived at the shooting site last week, Good appeared to have sustained two gunshot wounds to her chest, one to her left forearm, and a possible fourth wound from a bullet on “the left side of the patient’s head”.

Emergency responders found Good unresponsive with an irregular pulse, and she was declared dead while en route to the hospital, as per the report examined by CBS.

Video from the incident shows the agent walking away afterwards.

However, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials informed CBS that the officer experienced internal bleeding in the torso following the event. No additional information has been provided.

The FBI is conducting an investigation into the event, although there is currently no federal civil rights inquiry concerning the agent who discharged his weapon. Local leaders and agencies report they have been excluded from the investigation.

In the interim, President Donald Trump criticized protesters and local officials on Friday.

On Truth Social, he labeled demonstrators as “highly compensated professionals”, claiming that Walz and Frey had “completely lost control”.

Later, the Republican president told reporters at the White House that he did not intend to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy troops to address unrest in Minnesota, despite suggesting earlier in the week that he might do so.

“If it becomes necessary, I would utilize it. However, I see no reason to use it at this time,” he stated. “It’s a very powerful measure,” he added.

Thousands of ICE agents are still operating in the state.

Democratic lawmakers traveled to the city for a hearing and spent Friday denouncing federal immigration actions in the state, accusing ICE of reckless and unlawful behavior.

Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota congresswoman who has clashed with Trump for some time, asserted that ICE is attempting to “incite chaos and fear”.

Adriano Espaillat, a congressman from New York, remarked that ICE had turned into a “lethal weapon”.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal from Washington stated that ICE agents should not be permitted to conceal their identities, make arrests without warrants, and should be mandated to wear body cameras and name tags.

The Democratic lawmakers also listened to complaints from several locals who claimed to have been handcuffed and detained by ICE for hours before they could prove their citizenship.

The BBC has reached out to DHS and ICE for commentary.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin informed CNN on Friday that if there is “reasonable suspicion” regarding someone in close proximity to an individual being apprehended by DHS forces, they might be required to verify their identity.

She dismissed claims that such tactics could be discriminatory, asserting that “racial bias has no place within DHS”.