ICE and the White House escalated a public showdown with sanctuary city leaders as Vice President JD Vance accused local officials of fueling unrest by resisting federal immigration enforcement.
The dispute sharpened after Vance stated that disorder linked to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations is limited to jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal authorities.
Vance wrote Tuesday that “an extremely important point” is that “you’re only seeing chaotic ICE raids in blue sanctuary cities where local officials are fighting against federal law enforcement.”
He added that “the chaos is created by ‘leaders’ who would rather promote rioting in their streets than follow the law,” framing the issue as a breakdown between federal enforcement and local governance.
This is an extremely important point: you're only seeing chaotic ICE raids in blue sanctuary cities where local officials are fighting against federal law enforcement.
The chaos is created by "leaders" who would rather promote rioting in their streets than follow the law. https://t.co/GVUg0er87K
— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 13, 2026
ICE echoed that position in a separate statement, pointing to cooperation gaps as the root of recent confrontations.
The agency stated that “everything stems from local leadership and their cooperation or noncooperation with ICE,” tying operational outcomes directly to local policy choices.
ICE further asserted that in jurisdictions where officials work alongside federal agents, enforcement actions proceed without major disruption.
According to the agency, “in cities and states where local leaders actively work with ICE to protect their communities from criminal illegal aliens, violent protests — like those in Minnesota— do not occur, and operations proceed as planned.”
The statements followed days of demonstrations in Minneapolis after activist Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by a federal agent during an immigration enforcement encounter.
Good, identified as a member of ICE Watch, died last Wednesday after allegedly attempting to run over federal agents with her vehicle during an operation, according to federal accounts.
Protests intensified in the days that followed, drawing national attention to Minneapolis and reigniting debates over sanctuary policies and enforcement tactics.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey disputed claims of widespread violence, describing the demonstrations as largely orderly.
During an interview with “Fox & Friends,” Frey stated, “We have had, perhaps tens of thousands of people peacefully protesting in the street,” while acknowledging strong public emotion around the incident.
He added, “And at the same time, yeah, they are going to stand up for their neighbors,” characterizing the response as civic engagement rather than unrest.
Frey said he does not support eliminating ICE entirely, despite Minnesota’s lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s expanded immigration enforcement actions.
“I do not support abolishing ICE,” Frey stated. “However, I absolutely oppose the way that this administration is conducting themselves with us.”
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The mayor pointed to the scale of the federal presence in Minneapolis as a source of concern for city officials.
“Right now, there are about 3,000 federal ICE agents in our city between ICE and border control,” Frey explained. “You know how many police officers that we have? 600.”
Federal officials countered that the surge is driven by state and local restrictions that limit cooperation with immigration authorities.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said that additional agents were deployed because local jails refuse to hold certain detainees.
She stated the surge occurred “because Minnesota law enforcement won’t let us in their jails. … That includes murderers, kidnappers and child pedophiles.”
McLaughlin said sanctuary policies require federal officers to conduct arrests in public spaces without assistance from local departments.
She added that under current policies, local law enforcement “can’t answer calls for backup when our law enforcement are attacked, assaulted and obstructed.”
“This is dangerous for our officers and the community,” McLaughlin continued, citing concerns about public safety and officer exposure.
She further claimed that “there are currently 1,360 violent criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota’s custody,” warning that release could follow if policies remain unchanged.
McLaughlin said, “If [Gov. Tim] Walz and Frey would stop these dumb, dangerous policies the public and our law enforcement would be a lot safer.”
President Donald Trump reinforced the administration’s position by signaling financial consequences for sanctuary jurisdictions.
During remarks at the Detroit Economic Club, Trump stated that federal funding to sanctuary cities and states would be halted starting in early February.
“Starting February 1, we are not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities because they do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens,” Trump told the crowd.
He added, “It breeds fraud and crime and all of the other problems that come, so we’re not making any payment to anybody that supports sanctuary cities.”
When pressed for specifics, Trump declined to provide details, responding, “You’ll see,” and adding, “It’ll be significant.”
The Justice Department has previously identified 11 states as sanctuary states, including California, New York, and Connecticut.
Trump has attempted similar funding restrictions in the past, though courts blocked those efforts.
Earlier this month, a New York judge halted a proposed $10 billion reduction in child care funding, while a Washington, D.C., judge blocked a prior $8 billion funding cut tied to states’ voting patterns.
Democratic lawmakers also escalated their response following Good’s death, targeting federal immigration agencies through the budget process.
Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota joined nearly 100 House Democrats in pledging to oppose future funding for ICE and Customs and Border Protection.
The lawmakers, many affiliated with the Congressional Progressive Caucus, cited alleged abuses by immigration enforcement agencies.
“We cannot and we should not continue to fund agencies that operate with impunity, that escalate violence and that undermine the very freedoms this country claims to uphold,” Omar stated.
She added, “ICE has no place in terrorizing Minneapolis or any American community. Together we will stand united to ensure we put a check on the pattern of violence and lawlessness from this administration.”
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security is set to expire Jan. 30, placing enforcement budgets at the center of upcoming negotiations.
Trump also commented on the circumstances surrounding Good’s death during an interview Tuesday.
“I would bet you that she, under normal circumstances, was a very solid, wonderful person. But her actions were pretty tough,” Trump stated.
He added, “When you look at that tape, it can be viewed two [different] ways, I guess,” referencing video evidence.
“But when you look at the way that car was pulled away, there were a couple of versions of that tape that are very, very bad,” he continued.
Administration officials have defended the federal agent involved, stating the officer acted in self-defense.
ICE has said Good obstructed enforcement activity and that an officer was injured after being dragged by a vehicle during a June apprehension.
The Department of Justice confirmed it will not pursue a criminal civil rights investigation into the shooting.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated Tuesday, “There is currently no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation.”
