Minnesota officials are rebuffing a series of demands from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, as the state continues its clash with the Trump administration over the surge of federal immigration enforcement in the North Star state.
In a letter to Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Bondi wrote: "You and your office must restore the rule of law, support ICE officers, and bring an end to the chaos in Minnesota."
The letter was dated Saturday, the same day Alex Pretti, a nurse and U.S. citizen, was shot and killed by immigration officers — the second fatal shooting by federal agents this month.
Bondi urged Walz to embrace what she called "common sense solutions," including repealing what the Trump administration terms "sanctuary policies" and cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Minnesota state officials say the Trump administration is making false claims about its cooperation with ICE.
Walz, who's called on the Trump administration to end its operation in Minnesota, dismissed the letter in a news conference Sunday.
The letter also calls on the state to "share all of Minnesota's records" relating to Medicaid and food assistance programs, including SNAP, with the federal government.
The Trump administration has cited allegations of fraud, especially relating to immigrants of Somali descent, in its immigration crackdown.
Minnesota is one of more than 20 states that has so far refused to comply with a demand from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to turn over personal information about people who have applied for or received SNAP benefits over the last six years. The states have argued the demand is unlawful and a federal judge in California issued a preliminary ruling indicating they were likely to prevail in that claim.