DHS Assistant Tricia McLaughlin (left) gave a scathing response to Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz's request for the agency to "reassess" its enforcement policies. (DHS; Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images)
"Obstructing law enforcement is not protesting; it is a crime," said McLaughlin.
In response to Walz raising concerns about the arrest of a U.S. citizen named "Sue," McLaughlin said the woman assaulted a federal law enforcement officer during a "targeted enforcement operation" in Minneapolis to arrest an Ecuadoran criminal illegal named Quiquintuna Capuz.
According to McLaughlin, Capuz has a previous conviction for felony assault on a police officer. She said that despite the illegal’s record, a "violent group of rioters formed and began assaulting and obstructing law enforcement as they were arresting this dangerous criminal."
U.S. citizen Susan Tincher was arrested after she "assaulted a federal agent, tried to break through a security perimeter set up for public safety, ignored lawful commands, and became violent," per McLaughlin.
"Secretary Noem has been clear: if you lay a hand on a law enforcement you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said McLaughlin.
In his letter, Walz urged Noem to review recent arrests made by federal agents to ensure they have a judicial warrant authorizing detention or seizure and to clarify the legal standard under which a citizen may exercise his rights to document and witness "aggressive law enforcement actions."
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Somali illegal immigrant Abdul Dahir Ibrahim, convicted of fraud, and connected to several high-profile Minnesota politicians, including former Democratic vice-presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz. (ICE)
DHS shot back in an X post that "for the past 6 years, Minnesotans have lived in fear for their lives, their families, and their property as you’ve let criminal illegal aliens run wild in your state."
"Governor, do you stand with the illegal aliens we’re taking off YOUR streets or with Americans?" DHS wrote.
Minneapolis has been at the center of controversy in recent weeks over a massive fraud scheme dating back to at least 2020 that permeated several departments and several nonprofits, ranging from childcare services to COVID-19 relief, to autism care, and is believed by many to eventually eclipse $1 billion in wasted state and federal taxpayer funds.
Republican lawmakers in the state have told Fox News Digital they believe that Walz deserves much of the blame.
State Rep. Mark Koran said, "You have to look at who's been solely in charge of that process, which has been Governor Walz."
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"The executive body controls every agency. And I think what to understand is how they are either extraordinarily incompetent or willfully complicit. There are no alternatives to it. And I think they're actually both," said Koran.
Fox News Digital reached out to Walz for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Fox News Digital's Andrew Mark Miller and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dhs-unleashes-scathing-response-after-walz-asks-agency-reassess-enforcement