>>Klobuchar Officially Announces Run for Minnesota Governor
(Undated) — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced today she is running for governor of Minnesota. In a four-minute campaign video, Klobuchar acknowledged the challenges facing the state, saying, “We cannot sugarcoat how hard this is, but in these moments of enormous difficulty, we find strength in our Minnesota values of hard work, freedom, and simple decency and goodwill.” Klobuchar said her campaign is focused on working families, housing affordability, health care, and opportunity. “I am running for this job for every person who wants their work recognized and rewarded,” she said, adding she is running for first-time homebuyers, parents, students, farmers,s and those she described as “every dreamer and builder.” Her announcement comes amid weeks of unrest in Minnesota, including violent clashes between federal immigration authorities and protesters.
>>Leaked ICE Memo Leads to More Uncertainty
(Minneapolis, MN) — A leaked memo from Immigration and Customs Enforcement instructs agents that they have the authority to enter private homes without a signed judicial warrant. Local attorney Mike Bryant of Bradshaw and Bryant says ICE is making two claims under the War Powers Act of 1973: that it can act without limitation as part of the executive branch, and that constitutional protections do not apply to individuals who are in the country illegally. “They’ve also claimed this is about dealing with gang activity, which it clearly is not,” Bryant said. “Raiding factories or pulling people out of their houses isn’t stopping gangs. These aren’t dangerous people; they’re doing this to, but they’re using that as justification.” Bryant says ICE does not legally have that authority, but warns residents that agents are still armed and staffed to carry out enforcement actions. He urges Minnesotans to comply as much as possible while understanding their rights. The memo is signed by ICE Director Todd Lyons, who is scheduled to appear in federal court tomorrow(Fri) in Minneapolis.
>>Trump Warns Minneapolis Mayor After ICE Pushback
(Washington, DC) — President Trump is warning Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey that he is “playing with fire” after Frey said the city will not enforce federal immigration laws. The president issued the warning Wednesday in a post on Truth Social, saying Frey made the statement despite what Trump described as “a very good conversation” between the two. The comments follow a Tuesday meeting in Minneapolis between Frey, Police Chief Brian O’Hara, and White House border czar Tom Homan. After that meeting, Frey said city leaders would remain in contact with Homan and his team but made clear that “Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws.” In his Truth Social post, Trump called on someone close to the mayor to explain that the statement represents what he called “a very serious violation of the law.” Frey later responded by emphasizing that local police are focused on public safety, not federal immigration enforcement, saying the department’s priority is preventing violent crime and ensuring residents feel safe calling police.
>>Lawsuit Claims Federal Detainees Denied Attorney Access at Whipple
(Minneapolis, MN) — A class action lawsuit alleges that detainees held at the Whipple Federal Building are being denied access to attorneys. The suit, filed by The Advocates for Human Rights, claims Homeland Security and ICE officials are deliberately blocking legal counsel from reaching immigrant detainees. Attorneys argue that many detainees are being transferred out of Minnesota or pressured to give up their rights before an attorney has a meaningful opportunity to contact them. The Department of Homeland Security denies the allegations outlined in the lawsuit.
>>Court Order Temporarily Halts ICE from Detaining Recently Resetttled Refugees
(Minneapolis, MN) — A federal judge has temporarily halted immigration authorities from arresting or detaining recently resettled refugees in Minnesota who have not yet obtained lawful permanent resident status. The ruling follows the rollout of a new Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services initiative called Operation PARRIS, which aims to reexamine the legal status of roughly 5,600 Minnesota refugees. Under the order issued Wednesday, officials must immediately release any refugees detained under the policy and return those transferred out of state within five days. The judge also directed that refugees be released to attorneys or approved individuals, and not left outside in dangerous cold conditions.
>>Day of Solidarity at Minnesota State Capitol
(St. Paul, MN) – Fifty state lawmakers from 15 states will be in St. Paul to participate in a Day of Solidarity at the Minnesota State Capitol. The lawmakers will join DFL lawmakers for a hearing with the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Impacts to discuss ICE activity in Minnesota. Topics include the presence of federal agents in Minnesota and the Department of Homeland Security’s role in this operation. DFL lawmakers say their message for the day is “when federal enforcement escalates violence and overreach, states will act together to protect their communities and democratic principles.” The hearing begins at 10 a.m.
>>Minnesota Senators Vow Not to Fund ICE
(Washington, D.C.) — Minnesota’s two U.S. senators are speaking out against a proposed funding increase for the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Senator Tina Smith says DHS needs a fundamental overhaul before Congress approves any additional funding. “In my view, we need to start over with the Department of Homeland Security,” Smith said. “I think it should be ripped down to the studs and we should start over. To be clear, I will not vote for any funding for DHS if we do not take action to stop this emergency unfolding in my state.” Smith says the immediate priority should not be a funding vote, but removing ICE agents from Minnesota and easing the fear she says many residents are currently experiencing.
>>House Speaker Demuth Rips Local Law Enforcement, Praises Federal Law Enforcement
(St. Paul, MN) — Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth (day-muth) is claiming “there’s been a failure of local law enforcement to protect Americans and the victims of violent criminals that are here illegally.” On M-P-R’s Morning Edition on Wednesday, Demuth spoke to host Cathy Wurzer about the state of Minnesota in the past few months, including fraud and immigration. Demuth also says federal law enforcement officers are “here carrying out federal law to protect American citizens.” The Minnesota House D-F-L says Demuth is “choosing to scapegoat local law enforcement and shield Trump from accountability.”
>>Democratic Lawmakers in Twin Ports React to Continued Presence of ICE in Minnesota
(Duluth, MN) – Democratic lawmakers in the Twin Ports are pushing back against the continued presence of federal immigration officers in Minnesota. Representative Liish Kozlowski says their caucus will introduce legislation creating “ICE-free safety zones” at places like schools, child-care centers, courts, and hospitals, and tightening rules on federal agents’ conduct. Kozlowski, Representative Pete Johnson says the presence of ICE isn’t about public safety, immigration, or fraud, but instead about making an example out of Minnesota. Senator Jen McEwen says recent ICE activity has been overly aggressive. McEwen also criticized what she called violent apprehension tactics.
>>No Real ID? Soon you will have to Pay TSA Screening Fee
(Bloomington, MN) — Beginning Sunday, February 1st, airline passengers 18 and older who do not have a REAL ID or another acceptable form of government‑issued identification will be required to pay a $45 fee to verify their identity before passing through airport security and boarding a flight. TSA Regional Spokesperson Jessica Mayle (MAY‑lee) says travelers who pay the fee will receive a receipt that must be shown at the security checkpoint.
She says the online payment process is brief and asks for a traveler’s first date of travel.
“The reason for that is this is good for ten days,” Mayle said. “So if you’re there and back within ten days, you can use that receipt more than once. If your trip is longer than ten days, you would need to pay again.” Mayle says more than 94 percent of travelers nationwide already present acceptable identification at TSA checkpoints — a number that’s even higher at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport. The payment site is available at tsa.gov.
>>Duluth College Student Dies In Crash That Injured Two Classmates
(Stannard Township, MI) — Authorities are releasing the name of a Duluth college student who was killed last week in a crash in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The Ontonagon County Sheriff’s Office says 24-year-old Andrew Bjork of Hudson, Wisconsin, was killed in the collision on January 19th. Two of his classmates at the College of St. Scholastica were injured. An online fundraiser has been started to help the survivors with medical expenses.
>>Eden Prairie Educator Named Finalist For 2026 National Teacher Of The Year
(Eden Prairie, MN) — A Twin Cities high school English teacher is a finalist for the 2026 National Teacher of the Year award. Linda Wallenberg teaches at Eden Prairie High School and is in her 50th year of teaching. She is the 61st Minnesota Teacher of the Year. The winner of the national award will be announced this spring.
