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Minnesota elected officials joined several faith leaders Tuesday in raising concerns about federal immigration actions, criticizing a lack of communication and transparency from federal officials.

Dozens joined at Shiloh Temple in Minneapolis to stand in solidarity with immigrant communities targeted in the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement special operation that began on Dec. 1. They condemned what they described as “chaos” federal ICE agents were sowing across Minnesota.

“When law enforcement is driven by profiling or intimidation, it undermines all the trust in the community. It makes us less safe, and it pulls resources away from doing the real work of crime,” Gov. Tim Walz said. “Minnesota is not going to play along with their strategy. We will not allow our communities to be used as political theater for their personal benefit.”

ICE has released selected information about what it has called “Operation Metro Surge.” It has arrested hundreds but only shared information about immigrants being detained who have prior criminal records.

Walz, a second-term DFL governor, said federal officials haven’t communicated adequately with local law enforcement about immigration enforcement activities. He said he anticipates there could be an enhanced ICE presence during the holidays. Walz said local officials and faith leaders would work to keep key corridors like food banks, schools and businesses open to people who might be afraid to go out in public.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the city’s police department is understaffed. He said the city doesn’t have enough officers to respond to typical calls as well as additional calls from ICE agents or residents tracking immigration actions. While Minnesota police are trained to deescalate situations, he said he wasn’t seeing those protocols from ICE agents.

“I am increasingly concerned because of the chaos that is being caused by these ICE agents that somebody is going to get seriously injured or killed,” Frey said. “Somebody is going to get seriously injured or killed, and whether that is an ICE agent or a community member, we all know the tinder box that could explode because of it.”

ICE, which is housed in the U.S. Department of Homeland security, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

State and local leaders said they have received complaints about federal immigration authorities taking evasive actions to hide their identities.

That includes allegations of ICE personnel swapping license plates on vehicles. That tactic could violate Minnesota law and has 

, too. Walz said agents should stop the practice. 

“They’re doing what criminals do. They’re putting on license plates on vehicles they’re not registered to, so they’re renting vehicles and putting on fake plates,” Walz said. “We’ve seen where they’re putting on fake Uber stickers so they drive in so people think that’s not law enforcement, that’s criminal activity.”

Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said observers who suspect plate swapping is occurring can lodge complaints with Homeland Security. 

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Dozens of local officials and faith leaders met in Minneapolis to support immigrant communities and to call for more transparency in federal immigration actions.

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Minnesota leaders condemn ICE for ‘chaos’ in immigration actions as operation goes on

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