Staff Reports
In the latest chapter of the ongoing drama between Minnesota leadership and the federal government, Mayor Jacob Fry and Governor Tim Walz have issued a demand that leaves many conservatives shaking their heads in disbelief. These Minnesota bigwigs are demanding the federal government, and specifically President Trump, cover a hefty $23 million in what they label as damage from ICE enforcement operations. This is rich, considering these very leaders have taken a rather curious approach to law and order, or the lack thereof, in recent years.
The demand stems from the recent conclusion of Operation Metro Surge, an initiative that successfully removed over 4,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records from Minnesota’s streets. Notably, these weren’t your average jaywalkers but individuals involved in serious crimes. Yet it seems instead of a thank-you note for making Minneapolis and the greater Minnesota community safer, Fry and Walz want to send President Trump the bill for the whole operation. It’s like damaging your own house in a fit of rage and then blaming the neighbor for the mess.
What’s most baffling to observers is that these leaders have previously been less concerned about financial woes when their state was embroiled in scandals involving billions of taxpayer dollars lost to fraud. Back then, the coffers seemed bottomless. But now, with a vastly improved public safety record thanks to ICE, suddenly every dime counts, and someone else is to blame. Perhaps a sudden gust of fiscal responsibility blew across the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
This demand for funds starkly contrasts with the realities of the operation’s success. With the surge of ICE officers, Minnesota saw a significant downshift in the number of dangerous crimes on its streets. The returned sense of security should have been a welcome change, one might think. But alas, Fry and Walz appear more interested in stoking a political grievance than acknowledging the genuine improvements to public safety.
In a world where apples fall, pigs don’t fly, and local leaders should seemingly welcome crime reduction, it appears Minnesota’s top brass live in a universe all their own. While President Trump remains focused on enforcing laws and ensuring secure borders, Minnesotan officials might find more to complain about as their communities become safer, albeit undocumented by their own rhetoric. Instead of trying to pass the buck, maybe Fry and Walz should look in the mirror and reflect on their priorities. If only Minnesota’s money-losing learning centers could offer a course in gratitude.
