Speaking before a group of political and religious leaders on Tuesday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed concern that there will be more anti-immigration raids by ICE agents despite the holiday this week.
"If I were a betting person, they will do it over these holiday seasons because it makes it especially cruel," Walz claimed. "It makes it especially mean-spirited. It makes it especially traumatizing for communities that wish to gather and to celebrate in their faith on this most important of the high holidays in all of our faiths."
Walz called the recent series of ICE raids in the Twin Cities "political theatre," and that profiling and intimidation pulls away law enforcement personnel that should be keeping the public safe.
"I will not be lectured about protecting law enforcement for the people who instigated January 6th and attacked people who were my friends of Capitol Police," said Walz. "So Minnesotans will not be lectured by this administration about anything, especially about public safety and human decency."
Joining Walz were both mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is fearful for the worst.
"If we continue on this present trajectory, somebody is going to get killed and whether that's a federal agent or that is a community member," Frey said. "Somebody is going to get killed, and we should be speaking out now to prevent that kind of thing from happening as opposed to being really frustrated and upset with it after the fact."
Outgoing St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter says the actions remind him of another troubling era in American history.
"When I look at my neighbors on the eastside of St. Paul and see them worried," "Bishop, before they leave the house to make sure they have their papers so they're not harassed by law enforcement, I recognize that. I recognize Jim Crow."
Governor Walz added that Minnesotans have been through a lot together.
"We've been through it together," Walz explained. "We've witnessed horrific scenes from George Floyd's murder to what happened during COVID, and we've come through it stronger and better together. So let's show them what this grit looks like. I keep praying for as cold as it can get because these soft folks are going to leave."
Homeland Security officials say about 400 people have been arrested since Operation Metro Surge began more than three weeks ago across the Twin Cities.
It's not known how many of them remain in custody.