Vance to Visit Minneapolis Thursday for Roundtable With Local Leaders

Vice President JD Vance will visit Minneapolis on Thursday as tensions with local and state officials remain high during ongoing fraud investigations and heavy immigration enforcement operations.

Vance will hold a roundtable with local leaders and community members and will deliver remarks “focused on restoring law and order in Minnesota,” the vice president’s office announced Wednesday.

The U.S. Justice Department started issuing subpoenas to top officials in Minnesota Tuesday, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, his office confirmed. Gov. Tim Walz didn’t confirm his receipt of a subpoena but stated on X the investigation was a “partisan distraction.”

The news comes days after the Department of Justice launched an investigation into Walz and Frey over alleged obstruction of law enforcement during federal immigration enforcement.

The Department of Health and Human Services is continuing to audit and investigate several day care and child care programs, along with other social services that receive federal funds, after alleged widespread fraud was uncovered, mostly among members of the state’s Somali community.

The fraud investigation prompted an all-of-government response by the Trump administration, including urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to investigate immigration violations.

Walz and Frey responded to federal immigration operations by encouraging the public to peacefully protest, especially following the shooting death of activist Renee Good on Jan. 7 by an ICE officer after videos showed her driving toward the officer.

Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated and hundreds of police officers were called to stand by in the city after Good’s death.

On Wednesday, Walz criticized the federal immigration enforcement operations.

“This is not a serious operation to enforce immigration law,” Walz posted on X. “It’s a performative show of force and it’s gotten way out of hand.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also said arrests were expected soon after anti-ICE demonstrators, livestreamed by former CNN reporter turned social media reporter Don Lemon, stormed a church service Jan. 18 in St. Paul.

“The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly—not rioting,” Noem wrote on X. “This administration is committed to upholding federal law and defending the rights of all Americans. These agitators will be held accountable.”

Justice Department officials say the protest violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or FACE Act, of 1994, which prohibits the use of force, threat of force, or physical obstruction, against people trying to use their First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship.

More than 10,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested in the state in the past year, according to DHS.

Beyond immigration, the Trump administration has also opened investigations into Small Business Administration loan fraud, Department of Housing and Urban Development housing loan violations, Medicaid program fraud, and federal food program funding violations.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is also forming a task force to investigate any fraud and abuse of pandemic-era tax incentives.