Minnesota Governor Tim Walz faced harsh criticism Thursday from Rep. Tom Emmer during a House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee hearing focused on sanctuary state policies. Emmer, a Republican from Minnesota, accused Walz of prioritizing illegal immigrants over law-abiding citizens, and failing to support ICE and national sovereignty.
Emmer pointed to a series of benefits extended to illegal immigrants in Minnesota under Walz’s leadership—including taxpayer-funded healthcare, free college tuition, and state-issued driver’s licenses. “So you claim you’re not a sanctuary state. You just provide free healthcare, free college, and driver’s licenses to illegal aliens,” Emmer said.
He also challenged Walz on Minnesota’s lack of cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, saying, “While states like Florida and Virginia empower their law enforcement to detain and remove criminal illegal aliens, you, sir, have done just the opposite.” Emmer criticized the state’s Attorney General for instructing law enforcement to ignore ICE detainers, a move Walz defended by stating Minnesota “follows all law.”
Walz, attempting to deflect, argued that the laws haven’t changed since Emmer served in the Minnesota legislature. But Emmer countered with past remarks by Walz, including a 2018 post supporting policies that prevent law enforcement from cooperating with federal authorities, and a 2025 graduation speech in which Walz called ICE a “modern day Gestapo.”
Emmer condemned that language, calling it inflammatory and dangerous, especially in light of recent attacks on ICE agents in Los Angeles. “So, sir, it saddens me that you refuse to express regret from comparing [ICE] to Nazis,” Emmer said. “You at the very least, owe an apology to these dedicated public servants.”
The congressman accused Walz’s administration of turning Minnesota into a magnet for illegal immigration, thereby endangering citizens by welcoming gang members, child predators, and known terrorists. Emmer connected Walz’s record to past failures, including his delayed response to the George Floyd riots and refusal to deploy the National Guard when violence escalated.
“You have failed to enforce the rule of law. You have failed to uphold our national sovereignty, and most importantly, you have failed the people of Minnesota,” Emmer concluded. He warned that voters had rejected radical sanctuary policies with the election of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
