Bondi Demands Minnesota Voter Rolls as Walz Rejects DOJ Pressure After ICE Shooting
Minnesota is locked in a sharp political clash after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s controversial letter tied federal cooperation to access to the state’s voter rolls and other sensitive data following a federal agent’s fatal shooting in Minneapolis. The dispute has intensified tensions between state officials and the Justice Department and sparked legal actions that could reshape federal-state relations on immigration and election oversight.
Hours after U.S. Border Patrol agents fatally shot 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti during protests in Minneapolis — part of the ongoing Operation Metro Surge immigration enforcement effort — Bondi sent Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz a letter linking federal demands for state data to broader cooperation with the Justice Department.
Bondi’s letter called for access to Minnesota’s voter registration records, welfare and public assistance data, and repeal of sanctuary policies, saying that sharing the information would help “bring back law and order” and ensure compliance with federal law.
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Gov. Walz and state leaders swiftly rejected the demands as unlawful and coercive, with Minnesota’s secretary of state saying the request was “no” and insisting private citizen data should not be surrendered to the federal government. Walz also reiterated calls for federal immigration agents to leave the state amid ongoing unrest.
The standoff has now entered the courtroom. A federal judge heard arguments on Minnesota’s request to end the immigration crackdown outright, with state attorneys arguing that federal operations and the linked data demands overstep constitutional authority.
Meanwhile, sources report that Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino and some agents are expected to soon leave the Minneapolis area, marking a potential shift in the federal presence.
This dispute highlights deepening tensions over federal power on immigration enforcement, election oversight, and privacy protections. The outcome may hinge on upcoming court rulings and negotiations between Minnesota officials and federal authorities.
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