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Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer didn’t mince words when he pushed back against Gov. Tim Walz’s bid to turn citizens into federal watchdogs. Speaking on Fox’s The Big Weekend Show, Emmer called Walz’s instruction for residents to film I.C.E. operations reckless and dangerous to the brave men and women who put themselves on the line to keep our communities safe.
Gov. Walz, in a recent statewide address, urged Minnesotans to “carry your phone with you at all times” and to record federal immigration activity to “bank evidence for future prosecution,” a call he framed as necessary to hold federal agents accountable. That appeal escalated an already tense situation in Minneapolis, turning ordinary citizens into piecemeal investigators at the governor’s behest rather than focusing on real solutions to restore law and order.
Emmer rightly pointed out that encouraging constant surveillance of law enforcement only fuels chaos and undermines the rule of law, and he used the moment to urge support for police and federal officers doing a dangerous job. Conservatives who care about public safety should be alarmed when political leaders substitute performative theatrics for clear policy and enforcement.
This episode is not happening in a vacuum—federal immigration enforcement has been stepped up in response to high-profile criminal investigations and the tragic shooting of a local woman that sparked heated protests across the Twin Cities. Those events have made tensions worse, but the right response is accountability through proper investigations and courts, not a call for civilians to harass or interfere with operations.
Worse still, Walz’s dramatic appeal has played like political theater while his administration faces broader questions about mismanagement and alleged fraud that deserve real oversight. The White House and liberal allies may mock the governor’s stumble in a primetime address, but conservatives must stay focused on the substance: elected leaders should secure communities, not inflame them.
Americans who love their country and the men and women in uniform should demand better from their governors and their party. Support law enforcement, insist on accountable, lawful investigations into any wrongdoing, and reject the kind of partisan posturing that turns citizens into pawns and makes our streets less safe.
