In January 2026, federal authorities issued grand jury subpoenas to several high-ranking Minnesota officials, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and State Attorney General Keith Ellison, as part of a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal investigation. The move has drawn significant attention locally and nationally, given its legal and political implications for state and municipal leadership.
Who Is Jacob Frey?
Jacob Frey has served as Mayor of Minneapolis since 2018 and was re-elected to a third term in November 2025 in a closely watched municipal election. He leads one of the largest cities in the Midwest and has taken public positions on issues ranging from public safety to economic development and city governance.
Frey’s political priorities have included police reform, affordable housing initiatives, and efforts to stabilize neighborhoods in the years following major unrest and public safety challenges. As mayor, he also plays a role in coordinating local government responses to federal and state policies.
What the DOJ Subpoenas Involve
According to reporting by Reuters, the Department of Justice served grand jury subpoenas at the offices of Minnesota’s governor, attorney general, and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul on January 20, 2026.
These subpoenas are linked to an ongoing federal investigation into whether public officials acted to impede or obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration law during a recent surge in immigration enforcement activities in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area. The probe focuses on actions and communications by state and local officials that may have interacted with or influenced federal law enforcement operations.
While the DOJ has not publicly released full details of the investigation, reports indicate that the inquiry involves allegations about whether statements or policies by elected leaders may have amounted to interference with federal enforcement of immigration laws.
Federal Immigration Enforcement in Minneapolis
The investigation follows a period of intense federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, with agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) deploying personnel under the “Operation Metro Surge” initiative. This surge has reportedly involved thousands of federal agents in the Twin Cities, leading to confrontations, protests, and controversy.
The activities were initiated as part of a federal effort to target undocumented immigrants and individuals with criminal records. They became highly publicised after several high-profile incidents, including the fatal shooting of a woman by an ICE officer, which drew sharp criticism from local officials and community leaders.
Local Leaders’ Response
Mayor Frey, Governor Walz, and other Minnesota leaders have publicly criticised the federal immigration operations, arguing that the tactics used in enforcement were harmful to community relations and public safety. They characterised the federal response as heavy-handed and contrary to local priorities.
Frey and others have maintained that their objections were rooted in concerns about how immigration enforcement was being carried out and its impact on residents. These public statements, while political, became a focus of the DOJ’s investigation into whether elected officials’ actions crossed legal lines regarding obstruction.
Political Reactions and Backlash
The subpoenas issued to Minnesota Democratic leaders have generated political backlash from various quarters. Supporters of Frey and Walz argue that the investigation is politically motivated, framing it as an attempt to intimidate or suppress opposition to federal policies. Critics of the investigation describe it as part of a broader national partisan conflict over immigration enforcement and executive branch actions.
Federal prosecutors have maintained that the investigation is ongoing and that issuing subpoenas is part of understanding whether any laws were broken. At the same time, legal experts have noted that criticism of federal law enforcement — even sharp criticism — does not automatically constitute a crime. The legal threshold for proving obstruction or conspiracy is high and requires specific evidence of intent to unlawfully interfere with official duties.
Public Safety and Community Impact
The broader context of these events intersects with ongoing debates over public safety in Minneapolis, a city that has faced multiple policing challenges and community tensions in recent years. Activities related to federal immigration enforcement have occurred in the context of efforts to address violent crime and systemic inequities. Critics on all sides have urged careful, evidence-based approaches that protect public safety while respecting civil liberties.
Frey’s executive actions during this period included signing a city order limiting the use of Minneapolis-owned parking lots and other municipal properties for staging federal immigration enforcement operations, asserting that these facilities should not be used for such activities.
Legal and Governance Implications
Federal grand jury subpoenas are investigative tools that request documents, communications, and testimony relevant to an inquiry. They do not by themselves indicate charges or guilt, but they do signal that prosecutors are examining specific conduct. Subpoenas also place legal obligations on recipients to provide materials under penalty of law if duly authorised by the court.
For city officials like Frey, compliance with a grand jury subpoena typically involves working with legal counsel while balancing obligations to transparency and public communication. Officials often emphasise that providing subpoenaed information is part of due legal process.
Mayor Frey’s Re-Election and Political Context
Mayor Frey’s office gained renewed focus after his reelection in November 2025, when he secured a third term as Minneapolis mayor following the city’s ranked-choice voting process. His victory came amid a field of challengers and once again placed Frey at the centre of municipal leadership as Minneapolis navigates complex issues in housing, public safety, and community development.
His leadership has been described in local and national coverage as moderate and pragmatic, with emphasis on collaboration between city agencies and community groups. Frey’s tenure also reflects Minneapolis’s broader engagement with national policy debates, including criminal justice reform and responses to federal mandates.
Looking Ahead
As more information becomes publicly available, residents, civic organisations, and legal analysts are paying close attention to the proceedings. City officials, including Mayor Frey, have affirmed their intention to comply with lawful orders while continuing to serve Minneapolis residents and uphold local policy priorities.
The coming weeks and months are likely to include further official statements, legal filings, and potentially court proceedings that will clarify the scope and direction of the DOJ’s investigation.
Sources
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Grand jury subpoenas served to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and others — Reuters, January 20, 2026.
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Federal investigation into obstruction of immigration enforcement — Associated Press & CBS News.
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Minneapolis mayor election results and context — Wikipedia.
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Mayor Frey’s executive order regarding city property and immigration enforcement — City bulletin.