[0:00] Let me welcome all the uh ladies and [0:02] gentlemen of the press. Thank you all [0:03] for being here today. Uh my name is [0:05] Keith Ellison. I'm the attorney general [0:07] for the state of Minnesota. And I'm so [0:09] honored to be joined and in partnership [0:13] uh with the city of Minneapolis under [0:15] the leadership of my friend Jacob Fry [0:17] and the city of St. Paul under my under [0:20] the leadership of Mayor her who uh is [0:23] also a dear friend of many years. We've [0:25] come together and we're here to announce [0:28] a lawsuit we're filing against the [0:29] United States Department of Homeland [0:31] Security uh to end the unlawful [0:33] unprecedented surge of the federal law [0:37] enforcement agents into Minnesota [0:40] because this has to stop. [0:43] It just has to stop. We allege that the [0:46] obvious targeting of Minnesota, for our [0:49] diversity, for our democracy, [0:52] and our differences of opinion with the [0:54] federal government is a violation of the [0:57] Constitution and of federal law. We [1:00] allege that the surge, reckless impact [1:02] on our schools, on our local law [1:05] enforcement is a violation of the 10th [1:07] Amendment, and the sovereign laws and [1:09] powers of the Constitution grants to [1:12] states. We allege that DHS's use of [1:16] excessive and lethal force, their [1:19] warrantless racist arrests, their [1:23] targeting of our courts, [1:26] our churches, houses of worship and [1:29] schools are in violation of the [1:30] administrative procedures act on [1:33] arbitrary and capriccious federal [1:35] actions. And we ask that the courts will [1:39] end the surge of thousands of DHS agents [1:42] into Minnesota. We ask the courts to end [1:45] the DHS unlawful behavior in our state, [1:48] the intimidation, the threats, the [1:50] violence. We ask the courts to end the [1:53] tactics on our places of worship, our [1:55] schools, our courts, our marketplaces, [1:58] our hospitals, and even funeral homes. [2:02] The deployment of thousands of armed [2:04] mass DHS agents to Minnesota has done [2:07] our state serious harm. This is in [2:11] essence a federal invasion of the Twin [2:13] Cities and Minnesota and it must stop. [2:17] DHS agents have sown chaos and terror [2:19] across the metropolitan area and in [2:22] cities across the state of Minnesota. [2:24] Schools have gone onto lockdown. Entire [2:27] districts have had to cancel school for [2:30] tens of thousands of students to ensure [2:32] safety and offer online education [2:35] because of the students and the parents [2:38] fear of coming into the school. Local [2:40] businesses are struggling. Revenues are [2:43] down and some retail stores, daycarees, [2:46] and restaurants have actually closed [2:49] because people are afraid to go out and [2:51] to do their shopping, whether they're [2:53] immigrants or whether they are citizens [2:55] of many generations. [2:57] This surge has made us less safe. [3:00] Thousands of poorly trained, aggressive [3:02] and armed agents of the state of the [3:05] federal government have rolled into our [3:07] communities, overwhelmed our local [3:09] police departments and law enforcement [3:11] agencies should be focused on our public [3:14] safety. But instead, many are dealing [3:16] with the aftermath of DHS agents chaos [3:19] and violence. I want to thank our law [3:22] enforcement officers for doing a [3:23] tremendous job under very difficult [3:25] circumstances. Not the people, but the [3:28] federal government. [3:31] Minneapolis police have had to respond [3:33] to more than 200 20, excuse me, 20 ICE [3:36] related incidents like witnesses seeking [3:39] people being pulled into unmarked [3:41] vehicles by men in mass or ICE [3:43] abandoning vehicles on the street with [3:45] people detained inside. This is an [3:48] unlawful commandeering of police [3:49] resources. in just two days responding [3:52] to the chaos ICE has caused by has cost [3:55] the city two billion dollars in law [3:57] enforcement and overtime expenses. Two [4:00] days. And I wish I could stop there, but [4:02] I can't because these poorly trained, [4:04] aggressive, and armed agents of the of [4:06] the federal state have terrorized [4:08] Minnesota with widespread unlawful [4:10] conduct. They're acting unc they're act [4:13] they're making unconstitutional arrests [4:15] and using excessive force. DHS agents [4:18] have barged into restaurants asking to [4:20] access secure areas. And when asked to [4:23] present a warrant, which is required by [4:25] law, they respond, "We don't need one." [4:29] DHS agents have arrested peaceful [4:31] bystanders. They have fired chemical [4:34] irritants at people obeying lawful [4:36] lawful orders while exercising their [4:38] First Amendment rights. [4:40] They have even done so at some of our [4:43] most sensitive places like Roosevelt [4:47] High School here in Minneapolis. [4:51] They have detained law-abiding citizens, [4:53] leaving them handcuffed for hours just [4:56] because of the color of their skin or [4:59] what they're wearing or they speak [5:01] English with an accent. [5:03] >> And on January 7th, 2026, a DHS agent [5:08] shot and killed [5:10] Renee Nicole good leaving her children [5:15] without a mother and her six-year-old [5:18] son without either parent. [5:22] This has to stop. So, let's be clear. It [5:26] never should have started. These agents [5:28] have no good reason to be here. [5:30] Minnesota Minnesota's non-citizen [5:32] immigrant population is just 1 and a [5:35] half%. [5:36] >> Which is a h which is half the national [5:38] average. Our state's percentage is lower [5:41] than Utah, Texas, and Florida's. But [5:43] none of those states have thousands of [5:46] federal agents swarming their streets or [5:48] harming their people. The administration [5:51] says that they're focused on finding [5:53] criminals. Worst of the worst, they say. [5:57] But many of the people the DHS is [5:59] arresting in Minnesota have no criminal [6:01] history. [6:02] That fits a pattern. In 2025, 93% of the [6:07] people arrested by ICE had no violent [6:10] criminal history. 65% had no criminal [6:13] convictions at all. And randomly [6:15] stopping people in the street because [6:17] their skin color isn't uh the one that [6:20] they expect or want isn't doing a thing [6:23] to help public safety. [6:26] I've heard the administration talk about [6:27] fraud. No, not the 43 fraud convictions [6:31] the president has or the $43 million [6:34] fraudsters the president has pardoned, [6:37] but instead saying that ICE is here to [6:40] look for fraud somehow. [6:42] You know, we work with federal [6:43] government all the time and if the [6:45] federal government wants to help us with [6:47] forensic accountants, [6:49] we're open to that conversation. [6:51] But these ICE agents who are engaged in [6:55] the behavior that they're engaged in are [6:57] not helping public safety at all. [7:01] Immigration enforcement agents aren't [7:03] trained to investigate fraud. And [7:06] randomly stopping people in the street [7:08] because you don't like their accent [7:09] isn't going to stop fraud. [7:12] So enforcing federal immigration law and [7:14] fighting fraud are just pretext for this [7:16] surge. The real reason, it's no secret [7:19] Donald Trump and his administration have [7:22] been targeting people, cities, and [7:23] states that don't agree with them [7:25] politically. [7:27] >> That's right. [7:28] >> He singled out Minnesota countless [7:30] times. He's called us corrupt and [7:32] crooked. He's attacked our funding to [7:35] the tune of billions of dollars, which [7:37] we are challenging, and we fought back. [7:39] Of course, he's attacked programs that [7:41] motans rely on and tried to shut them [7:44] down and pay taxes for and he's attacked [7:47] motans with despicable racist xenophobic [7:51] language. The truth is Donald Trump [7:55] doesn't seem to like our state very [7:57] much. But what's that about? He doesn't [8:00] like our best in the nation safe and [8:02] secure elections. And sometimes he [8:04] doesn't like who we choose in them. Just [8:07] last week, Trump claimed that he won [8:09] Minnesota [8:11] three times [8:13] when in fact he's never won Minnesota. [8:16] He doesn't like how we take care of each [8:18] other or how we make sure our kids have [8:20] enough to eat. He doesn't like the [8:22] strength that immigrant communities [8:23] bring to our state. And he doesn't seem [8:26] to like that we protect our neighbors no [8:28] matter where they were born. In short, [8:31] Trump's t Trump's t the Trump's [8:34] administration's decision to target [8:36] Minnesota and Twin Cities is motivated [8:38] by a desire to retaliate against Trump's [8:40] perceived political opponents who are [8:42] the people of the state of Minnesota and [8:44] the Twin Cities rather than any good [8:46] faith concerns about immigration [8:48] enforcement, public safety, or law [8:50] enforcement. In conclusion, [8:53] I didn't have the pleasure and the [8:55] benefit of knowing Renee Nicole good, [8:58] but her friends and family knew her as [9:00] someone who was kind, [9:02] >> someone who loved her family deeply, and [9:05] someone willing to stand up for her [9:08] neighbors. [9:09] That sounds like the Minnesota that I [9:12] know. That's right. [9:13] >> The administration wants to paint false [9:15] political narratives about us, but we [9:17] know who we are and we know our rights. [9:20] The Constitution gives Minnesota the [9:22] sovereign authority to protect health [9:24] and well-being of every single person [9:26] who lives in our borders. The [9:28] Constitution gives us the right to vote [9:30] for who we want, pray however we want, [9:33] and be whoever we want without fear of [9:36] being racially profiled, assaulted, or [9:38] killed in our own communities. [9:40] We're going to defend those rights [9:42] because as much as they'd like to [9:44] believe it, DHS is not above the law. [9:47] >> That's right. and the people of [9:48] Minnesota are certainly not beneath it. [9:52] Let me now bring forward uh my mayor uh [9:57] the mayor who's where I go to go home at [9:59] night and is doing a wonderful job [10:01] protecting our city, Mayor Jacob Fry. [10:10] Thank you, Attorney General Ellison, for [10:12] your leadership and your incredible [10:14] team's work around this issue. Thank you [10:16] to Mayor Her of St. Paul for your [10:20] partnership. [10:21] Uh these are not normal times and so the [10:27] response that we are asking for from the [10:30] judicial system and from the courts uh [10:33] requires that we file suit at this [10:35] particular moment. Uh what we are seeing [10:38] right now is not normal immigration [10:41] enforcement. [10:42] We are not asking ICE not to do ICE [10:45] things. We are asking this federal [10:48] government to stop the unconstitutional [10:51] conduct that is invading our streets [10:53] each and every day. You've seen the [10:56] videos. At times there are as many as 50 [11:00] agents arresting one person. [11:02] >> The scale is wildly disproportionate and [11:05] has nothing to do with keeping people [11:07] safe. [11:08] In Minneapolis, we've done work [11:11] extensively with the federal government [11:13] under multiple administrations to keep [11:16] people in our city safe. We have worked [11:19] with the DEA, the ATF, the FBI, the [11:22] attorney uh the attorney general's [11:25] office as well as the US attorney's [11:26] office to successfully drive down crime [11:30] in our city. We've seen the results of [11:33] that work. But let's be clear, the [11:35] stated reason of this federal government [11:38] for bringing in this full invasion of [11:40] ICE and border control is not safety. [11:44] If it were safety, there would be other [11:46] mechanisms to achieve safety. By the [11:49] way, uh crime is down in virtually every [11:53] category in virtually every neighborhood [11:55] of this city. If this were about fraud, [11:58] then you'd see an invasion perhaps of [12:00] accountants. But that's not what you [12:02] see. Uh what you see is people being [12:06] indiscriminately taken off our streets. [12:08] Discrimination only takes place to the [12:10] extent that determination has made that [12:12] somebody is Somali or is Latino or at [12:15] least they look that way. And then there [12:17] is virtually no discrimination [12:19] thereafter. Here's the thing. You can't [12:23] indiscriminately take people off our [12:26] streets, American citizens off our [12:29] streets. You cannot drag pregnant women [12:31] through the snow. You're not allowed to [12:34] take teenagers out of their car and [12:37] detain them when they are in fact [12:39] American citizens. That is against the [12:41] law in every state. That is against our [12:43] United States Constitution. [12:46] And we're feeling the impact here in [12:48] Minneapolis. Schools have closed. People [12:50] are afraid to go to work, shop, or seek [12:52] medical care. 911 calls are up. Police [12:56] resources are indeed stretched thin. We [12:59] have approximately 600 officers in the [13:02] city of Minneapolis. Mayor Her has [13:05] approximately 600 officers in the city [13:08] of St. Paul. The number of ICE agents [13:12] and border control are now in the [13:14] thousands. [13:16] They are in the thousands. [13:18] If the goal was immigration enforcement, [13:22] if the goal were simply to look for [13:24] people that are undocumented, [13:26] Minneapolis and St. Paul would not be [13:28] the place where you would go. There are [13:31] countless more people that are [13:32] undocumented in Florida and Texas and [13:36] Utah. [13:38] Why are they in these much smaller [13:40] cities in the middle of the Midwest? The [13:43] answer is very clear. It is politics. [13:45] Florida and Texas and Utah are [13:49] Republican states. [13:51] The reason that Minnesota and [13:53] Minneapolis are being targeted is [13:55] because you've got a Democratic [13:56] governor, a Democratic attorney general, [13:59] and you got Democratic mayors. We are [14:02] doing everything possible to keep our [14:04] cities safe through this unprecedented [14:06] time. And at the same time, we have [14:08] police officers that are tired. Uh we've [14:12] seen damage substantially because we're [14:15] now having to pay a ton of overtime. [14:19] Millions of dollars of emergency [14:20] overtime for law enforcement. Emergency [14:23] operations have been activated across [14:25] our city and state agencies, pulling [14:27] focus on daily core services that we, by [14:30] the way, are tasked with providing. [14:32] Local police officers are being diverted [14:34] from the very work that we need to be [14:36] doing. and small businesses uh are [14:39] losing significant revenue with some uh [14:42] worried that they may not survive this [14:43] at all. People are scared to take their [14:47] kids into school or daycare to go into [14:50] work. They're going to have difficulty [14:52] paying rent. There is no doubt in my [14:55] mind the kind of action that the federal [14:58] government is taking is not just [15:00] mean-spirited. It's unconstitutional and [15:03] every one of us need to be standing up. [15:06] Uh, let me give you another example. [15:09] Just last week, a group of our city's [15:10] public works employees were stopped by [15:13] ICE agents. Three of the four employees [15:16] were not white. The ICE agents asked to [15:19] see the IDs of the three non-white [15:22] employees and didn't even bother to ask [15:23] the white employee for the [15:25] identification. [15:26] Minneapolis is being treated uh targeted [15:29] uh because we stand up for our neighbors [15:31] and we welcome immigrants because we [15:33] believe in the law. And as I said, [15:36] frankly, because we are in a blue city, [15:38] in a blue state, [15:42] Donald Trump should know, as long as [15:44] federal agents are in our city acting [15:46] unconstitutionally against our [15:48] neighbors, we will continue to push back [15:51] with everything we got. And let me just [15:54] take a moment to say how grateful I am [15:57] to the residents of our city and of our [15:59] state. [16:01] >> Uh we are not victims in the city of [16:04] Minneapolis. We've got heroes that are [16:06] standing up for each other, that are [16:08] standing by the neighbors that they [16:10] love. And one thing that I can tell you [16:12] for certain is that we aren't backing [16:14] down. We don't retreat in Minneapolis. [16:18] We don't back down in Minnesota. We [16:20] stand up against bullies. And right now, [16:23] what we are asking for is an [16:25] intervention from the court to push back [16:28] on this unconstitutional conduct, pure [16:30] and simple. Uh, I'll now turn it off to [16:33] Mayor Her. [16:41] Good afternoon everyone. Today I'm proud [16:44] to stand with Mayor Fry and Attorney [16:46] General Ellison to fight for our [16:48] residents. This federal occupation of [16:50] our cities needs to end immediately. [16:54] Federal law enforcement is racially [16:56] profiling our residents, creating mass [16:58] chaos, and undermining the relationship [17:00] between local government and our [17:02] communities. We will not stand idly by [17:05] and watch this happen. With this [17:08] collective action, we are taking a firm [17:10] stance to tell federal law enforcement [17:12] that this cannot happen in our country. [17:14] It cannot happen in our state and it [17:17] cannot happen in St. Paul. Federal law [17:20] enforcement is going far beyond what [17:22] they can and should be doing to enforce [17:24] immigration laws. They are endangering [17:26] our community safety, straining our [17:28] resources, and sewing distrust. [17:33] While we know we can't control federal [17:34] agents, we will pull every lever we have [17:37] to fight back in every way that we can. [17:40] They've come into St. Paul and [17:42] needlessly invaded our neighborhoods and [17:44] homes. They're targeting us based on [17:46] what we look and sound like. Our [17:49] residents are scared and as local [17:51] officials, we have a responsibility to [17:53] act. I want to thank Attorney General [17:55] Ellison and Mayor Fry for taking a [17:57] united stance for the people of [17:59] Minnesota and to our immigrant and [18:02] refugee communities. Let me be clear. [18:05] You are a vital part of our city. You [18:07] are loved and you are wanted and you are [18:10] important to the fabric of our state. [18:12] That's right. [18:13] >> As a refugee who came to this country, [18:15] this is the state that welcomed my [18:17] grandparents here in the late 70s, [18:19] allowed our family to break the cycle of [18:21] poverty in one generation. educated us, [18:24] allowed us to build wealth, and within [18:26] one generation have a new uh a new [18:29] family, a new family members that are [18:31] educated and a part of this uh economy [18:33] and this workforce. That we need to [18:35] continue to make sure that our state [18:36] stays that. And that can't happen if ICE [18:38] continues to run a muck of our city and [18:41] our state. And so, we cannot let this [18:43] federal administration divide us. We [18:45] need to come together now more than [18:47] ever. [18:48] >> Thank you. [18:48] >> Thank you. Great job. [18:51] Uh so now we have a few minutes for [18:54] questions. I want to acknowledge uh the [18:57] the vital presence of President Elliot [19:00] Payne of our Minneapolis City Council [19:02] here on behalf of all of the council [19:04] members. I I think in the council [19:06] representing the council, thank you for [19:07] your presence here, sir. And I also want [19:09] to say thank you to all of our staff [19:10] members who've worked so hard to prepare [19:12] us for this moment. uh they all are very [19:15] very critical to uh the work that we do [19:18] every day and we're grateful to them as [19:20] well and they may help us uh answering [19:22] some of your questions. We have about uh [19:25] 15 minutes for questions and so uh I'll [19:28] I'll select the first person who I see [19:31] uh Tom [19:32] >> Secretary General Ellison there's been [19:34] some success in getting the National [19:35] Guard out of some states with lawsuits [19:38] like this but that was over a question [19:40] of what the role of the National Guard [19:41] is. It's pretty clear what what ISIS's [19:44] role is, is that going to be make this [19:49] legal challenge more difficult? I don't [19:51] think so because ICE as I think the [19:52] mayor Fry said very well I has a has a [19:55] has statutory responsibility to do a [19:57] certain job where our argument is they [19:59] are exceeding that [20:01] >> dramatically uh in unconstitutional [20:04] unlawful ways violating our first and [20:06] 10th amendment rights our equal [20:08] sovereignty principle and uh provisions [20:10] of the administrative procedures act. [20:13] They have to obey the law themselves as [20:16] they carry forth their statutory duties. [20:18] We argue they're not doing that. They [20:20] have to do their they have to they have [20:22] to operate within the law and the [20:23] constitution. Yes sir. [20:25] >> Hey Ellison AC Thompson from Frontline. [20:29] >> Thanks for being here. [20:30] >> Thank you. Is this litigation aimed at [20:32] restraining the use of crowd control [20:34] weapons less lethal weapons? Our whole [20:36] crew got pepper spray today by federal [20:38] agents. Are you aiming to do anything [20:40] about that? [20:41] >> Well, one thing I'd like to ask you to [20:42] do is to make a complaint and let make [20:44] sure people know what happened to you [20:45] and your your crew. Uh the you know part [20:48] of what our case is about is first [20:50] amendment protection. We believe that [20:52] the federal government is persecuting [20:53] the state of Minnesota because of our [20:55] political views. Uh and that goes uh and [20:58] and look the first amendment the press [21:00] is protected by the first amendment and [21:02] is vitally important in this moment when [21:05] uh freedom of the press and every first [21:07] amendment right is under a threat by the [21:09] federal government. So I'm going to ask [21:11] you to let us know what happened. Uh but [21:14] yeah, you know, we're we're we're trying [21:16] to restore lawful conduct and make sure [21:18] that uh the federal government operates [21:20] within the boundaries of the law, which [21:22] they're required to do. [21:24] >> Yes, sir. [21:25] >> This is really something that's [21:27] obviously really ramped up, [21:29] >> right? [21:30] >> What kind of timeline? [21:35] >> Well, we're we filed a lawsuit already. [21:37] It's in it's on file right now. As far [21:39] as results go, [21:40] >> well, you know, uh, you know, it's it's [21:42] hard to predict exactly what the court [21:45] schedule will be, but we are [21:47] anticipating, uh, quick action. I don't [21:49] know what any of my team members want to [21:51] Brian, you want to respond to that? [21:54] >> Uh, Brian Carter, special counsel to the [21:56] attorney general. Um, I don't know if we [21:59] filed quite yet, uh, but we do have a [22:02] motion for a temporary restraining order [22:04] that's going to be filed today. Uh we're [22:07] going to ask that the court uh hear that [22:10] motion tomorrow uh morning. Uh there's [22:13] another similar motion in a in a [22:16] separate but related lawsuit that's [22:18] scheduled for that time. We're going to [22:20] try and piggyback on that and we're [22:22] going to be asking for immediate relief. [22:25] >> Brian Carter, everybody uh way in the [22:27] back [22:28] >> St. Paul have any specifics on overtime [22:30] for police officers in the way that [22:31] Minneapolis has? Yeah, we do know that [22:34] our we have had uh more we've had to [22:37] open our command center in order to [22:39] monitor the city. We've had to have all [22:41] of our officers in uniform. So then we [22:43] do have information as well and we'll be [22:45] uh sharing more of that information in [22:46] the days to come as it relates to this [22:48] lawsuit. [22:50] >> Are those overtime costs likely to reach [22:52] into the millions? [22:54] >> Yeah, the question is are those overtime [22:56] costs for Minneapolis police and St. [22:58] Paul police likely to reach into the [23:01] millions? The answer is absolutely. We [23:04] have normal core functions that we are [23:06] tasked with doing on a daily basis. We [23:08] are required to respond to 911 calls. We [23:10] are trying to prevent murders from [23:12] happening and carjackings from taking [23:14] place. And by the way, the work of our [23:16] police has been driving down those [23:19] numbers substantially. Uh our police [23:22] officers have performed admirably [23:24] because they're not just doing their [23:26] day-to-day job. They're also responding [23:28] to countless 911 calls that people are [23:31] being kidnapped, that agents in unmarked [23:35] uniforms, in unmarked cars are simply [23:38] taking people off the streets that are [23:40] American citizens. Uh they're required [23:42] to do the work to keep the peace. Our [23:45] police officers are doing the work to [23:47] keep the peace and to keep people safe. [23:49] With 600 officers, we can't do all of [23:52] those things all of the time. Not to [23:54] mention our officers are human beings [23:57] and therefore there is a point where [23:58] they get tired and when we've canceled [24:01] all days off when our chief is working [24:04] tirelessly [24:05] uh and he deserves a ton of credit here [24:07] too. Uh where we've got officers that [24:11] are working incredibly long hours and [24:13] long shifts. The the truth is is that [24:15] when you get to a certain point you [24:16] start making mistakes not because you're [24:19] a bad cop but because you're a human [24:20] being. And so we need relief. We're [24:23] asking the court for it. But the damage [24:26] that we are suffering right now in [24:27] Minneapolis is not limited to overtime [24:29] costs. It's schools shutting down. It's [24:32] businesses closing. It's people being [24:35] afraid to go out and get groceries and [24:37] therefore are going hungry. It's their [24:39] inability to get money so that they're [24:41] unable to pay rent. There is a snowball [24:44] effect that is happening right here. And [24:46] it's not just because we're in Minnesota [24:48] and there's a lot of snow. The snowball [24:50] effect is because what is ICE is doing [24:52] is intentional. This is intentionally [24:55] putting us in a very difficult position [24:58] that is not pro business and is not pro- [25:01] safety. The only thing that I can see it [25:04] being is pro politics. [25:09] >> Concerned about some of the tactics that [25:10] have been used on the street protesters [25:14] very heavy [25:16] force toward them. Are you guys [25:18] concerned about what you're hearing? [25:22] Go [25:22] >> ahead. [25:27] Can you elaborate on what you guys are? [25:30] >> Well, I'll let I'll let the mayors jump [25:31] in here, but I can tell you that this [25:33] whole lawsuit is partially driven, not [25:37] not exclusively, but partially driven by [25:40] exactly what you just said. And and [25:42] again, you know, look, ICE was operating [25:45] here before this surge. We didn't file a [25:48] lawsuit before. [25:49] >> Right. That's right. [25:50] >> This is because of this surge [25:54] >> and I you know quite honestly um you [25:57] know it it it is it's it is because of [26:00] the accumul accumulation of so many [26:04] stories that are just so far out of the [26:07] range of normal. You know uh some of [26:10] y'all saw the videotape at Target. Some [26:12] of y'all saw the videotape at uh at at [26:15] at Roosevelt High School [26:19] and I can tell you how many people [26:21] who've called me and said, "I am afraid [26:23] to go to work." And I'm not talking [26:25] about people who are non-citizens. I'm [26:27] saying citizens because when you when a [26:31] woman like Renee Good gets shot down, [26:34] then everybody citizens, non-citizens [26:37] are terrified. And I'll leave it to the [26:39] mayors to fill in there. I will say that [26:42] the question is if we're hearing about [26:43] it, we are absolutely I mean I think [26:45] that we are really lucky here in uh our [26:47] state and specifically Minnesota uh St. [26:49] Paul Minneapolis is that we have a [26:50] strong network of community organizers [26:52] who've been working together. We hear [26:54] almost every instance that happens you [26:56] know whether it's text to us personally [26:58] and we're looking into it or whether [27:00] it's coming uh into our neighborhood [27:01] groups. We are hearing it and we are [27:03] seeing and we are looking into every [27:04] time I get one I inquire into it to see. [27:07] Um, but I think that what's more [27:08] important in all of this is that what [27:10] it's not just the tactics that are being [27:11] used. It's the attack on the American [27:13] people who are citizens. I'm I wasn't [27:15] born here. I'm carrying my ID with me. [27:17] I'm carrying my passport card and my ID [27:18] with me all the time because I don't [27:19] know when I'm going to be detained, when [27:21] I'm going to be approached. The fact is [27:23] that it doesn't have to like the tactics [27:25] doesn't even at this point really [27:26] matter, right? It's the fact that we are [27:27] being attacked as American citizens [27:29] right now and we are hearing of it and [27:31] we are inquiring into it every single [27:32] time we get um we get something sent to [27:35] us. [27:36] Last question. [27:38] >> Uh, a lot of lawsuits against the [27:40] federal government that have been [27:42] ongoing led by your office. We also do [27:45] have the backdrop of fraud [27:47] investigations happening as well. Can [27:48] you just speak about how resources are [27:50] being doled out to the attorney [27:51] general's office and who's being [27:53] dedicated to fighting the federal? [27:56] >> Our our Medicaid fraud unit is hard at [28:00] work. We've we've prosecuted and [28:02] convicted over 300 people since I've [28:04] been attorney general for Medicaid [28:05] fraud. And other people in our office [28:07] who work on who do agency [28:10] representation, they're working hard. [28:12] But we have but but the people who work [28:13] on what I call federal accountability, [28:16] uh they're busy, too, because uh the [28:19] state the the federal government has [28:21] tried to deprive our state of money that [28:23] we're entitled to by statute that has [28:26] been appropriated to our state. And if [28:27] we don't fight for it, we won't get it. [28:29] And that will deprive the people of the [28:31] state of Minnesota of resources and [28:33] money that they deserve. And I'm talking [28:35] about things like SNAP benefits, housing [28:37] benefits, childcare benefits, all kinds [28:39] of benefits, National Institute of [28:40] Health benefits, FEMA benefits that [28:43] they've tried to unconstitutionally [28:45] deprive us from. So, uh, do we have [28:48] resource pressure? Yeah, my folks are [28:51] working really hard, harder than they [28:53] should have to. Uh but um we're also but [28:57] we but we can walk and chew gum and [28:58] we're fighting fraud every single day. [29:00] And let me just say this about fraud. [29:02] Anybody who steals from a program [29:04] designed to help poor people is no [29:06] friend of mine. And I'm all good to hold [29:08] them accountable. And uh you know the [29:10] federal government, you know, they're [29:12] doing all this stuff that we don't need [29:13] them to do. I wish they do some more [29:15] things we do need them to do. Now I'm [29:17] not talking about local federal [29:18] officials. They're doing their job. We [29:20] work with the US Attorney's Office and [29:22] the FBI to fight fraud. And I'm very [29:24] glad of with their partnership. What I'm [29:26] referring to is the substance of this [29:28] lawsuit right now. This is not what we [29:30] need. We don't need this. But we could [29:32] use we need all the help we can to can [29:34] get to help make sure that every dollar [29:36] that the generous people of Minnesota [29:38] devote to helping others gets to those [29:40] others. [29:42] >> We don't use the word invasion lightly. [29:46] Um what we are seeing is thousands [29:49] plural thousands of federal agents [29:52] coming into our city and yeah they're [29:54] having a tremendous impact on day-to-day [29:57] life and it's a negative one. Uh and [29:59] whether that's kids that are trying to [30:01] get to school or businesses that are [30:03] trying to open, that's police officers [30:05] that are responding to 911 calls, it's [30:08] just about being able to conduct daily [30:10] life right here in our city. Um and look [30:15] in [30:16] this is not about fraud. [30:19] Uh when you have a fraudster, you [30:22] investigate, you charge, you prosecute, [30:25] you hold the person accountable, and [30:26] then they get put in jail as an [30:29] individual. They get put in jail as an [30:32] individual. You do not hold an entire [30:34] community or an entire city accountable [30:38] for the actions of the fraudsters. [30:40] That's not a novel concept. That's just [30:43] the way this works in American society [30:45] and we should be abiding by that. [30:49] >> Good. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And let me [30:50] say thank you, Mayor Her. Uh let me say [30:53] thank you to the men and women of the [30:55] Independent Press of America. [30:57] >> The uh the reality is that uh the work [31:01] you do is is critically important to get [31:03] the word out to the people and we are [31:04] grateful for it. Um and with that, we're [31:07] going to conclude. Uh, but I'm sure any [31:10] of us will be willing to talk to y'all [31:11] offline. Bye-bye.