Vice President JD Vance visited Minneapolis on March 15, 2024, where he called for cooperation from local officials to alleviate escalating tensions surrounding the White House’s immigration enforcement strategy. Vance characterized the situation as chaotic, attributing blame to “far-left people” and local law enforcement for obstructing federal efforts.
During his address, Vance stated, “We’re doing everything that we can to lower the temperature,” and urged Minnesota leadership to “meet us halfway.” This statement comes as the Justice Department investigates state officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, over accusations of impeding immigration enforcement through public criticism of the administration. Both Walz and Frey have denounced the investigation as an attempt to intimidate political opponents.
Vance’s visit included a display of federal force, with officers from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) standing behind him, alongside vehicles marked with the slogan “Defend the Homeland.” This show of strength follows weeks of heightened rhetoric from the administration, particularly from President Donald Trump, who has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy military forces in response to unrest.
Tensions escalated further following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a mother of three, by an ICE agent during an operation. After Vance’s speech, Governor Walz placed the blame for the turmoil squarely on the federal government, stating on social media, “Take the show of force off the streets and partner with the state on targeted enforcement of violent offenders instead of random, aggressive confrontation.”
Vance has publicly defended the actions of ICE agents, including the agent involved in Good’s death, describing the incident as “a tragedy of her own making.” He reiterated claims that Good “rammed” her vehicle into an agent, a narrative that has been contested by video evidence of the encounter.
In response to the federal actions, Minnesota faith leaders, alongside labor unions and hundreds of local businesses, have organized protests scheduled for Friday. Nearly 600 businesses are set to shut down, and solidarity events are anticipated across the country, as reported by MoveOn spokesperson Britt Jacovich.
During his visit to Minnesota, Vance defended the actions taken by ICE in detaining a five-year-old boy while arresting his father, who is undocumented. “So the story is that ICE detained a 5-year-old. Well, what are they supposed to do?” Vance asked, emphasizing that local cooperation is critical to minimizing errors in immigration enforcement.
When questioned about reports indicating that federal authorities are claiming broad powers to enter homes without judicial warrants, Vance acknowledged the importance of warrants but did not clarify the types he was referencing. “Nobody is talking about doing immigration enforcement without a warrant,” he stated, adding that officers would not enter homes unless under specific circumstances.
Earlier in the day, Vance visited Toledo, Ohio, where he acknowledged that immigration agents have made mistakes but maintained that the responsibility does not rest with the federal government. “The number one way where we could lower the mistakes that are happening… is to have local jurisdictions that are cooperating with us,” he said.
In his remarks, Vance also criticized the actions of protesters who disrupted a church service in Minnesota, asserting that their actions violated the rights of worshippers. “Just as you have the right to protest, they have a right to worship God as they choose,” he added.
As Vance continues to support the administration’s economic messaging during Trump’s second term, he faces challenges in convincing the public of the nation’s economic health. Polls indicate a lack of confidence in the current administration’s handling of the economy and foreign policy. Vance urged voters to be patient, stating, “You don’t turn the Titanic around overnight.”
