Vice President JD Vance on Thursday visited Minneapolis where he met with federal and local law enforcement officials in an effort to “tone down the temperature” in the city that has seen intense clashes between protesters and federal immigration agents in recent weeks.
The vice president told reporters his goal is to “reduce the chaos” while finding a path forward that allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce still federal immigration laws targeting illegal aliens.
Protests in the city have at times turned violent and disruptive in the wake of the death of Renee Good, who was fatally shot earlier this month while hitting an ICE agent with her vehicle.
Vance also blamed the media, local officials and liberal activists for misinformation going around about federal immigration enforcement agents and the ongoing chaos.
🚨 BREAKING: VP JD Vance just WALKED OUT in Minneapolis flanked by ICE and Border officers and NUKED the Fake News
"Frankly, a lot of the media is LYING about these guys behind me!" 🔥
"Tone down the temperature, reduce the chaos, but STILL allow us to enforce federal… pic.twitter.com/1aDWwhnLZx
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 22, 2026
“The guys behind me are doing an incredible job, and frankly, a lot of the media is lying about the job that they do every single day,” he said during the remarks with immigration agents standing behind him.
He added that it’s “totally unacceptable” for left-wing agitators to harass, dox and assault federal law enforcement officers.
“The reason why things have gotten so out of hand is because of failure of cooperation between the state and local authorities and what [federal agents] are trying to do,” he said, criticizing local officials for telling local law enforcement to “stand down” rather than help ICE agents being attacked by rioters.
Vice President JD Vance Delivers Remarks in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jan. 22, 2026 https://t.co/SYLv9mBVS1
— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) January 22, 2026
“The best way to facilitate reasonable enforcement of the law, but also to lower the chaos in Minneapolis, would be for state and local officials to cooperate,” Vance added. “I actually … have some reason to think that there’s going to be better cooperation in the weeks and months to come.”
He also addressed allegations that ICE recently arrested a 5-year-old boy in Minneapolis, clarifying that the child’s dad, an illegal alien, went on the run and left the child.
“So the story is that ‘ICE detained a 5-year-old.’ Well what are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to let a 5-year-old child freeze to death?” the vice president said.
REPORTER: “A local school district here is alleging ICE agents detained a 5-year-old after preschool on Tuesday…Are you proud of how your administration is conducting this immigration crackdown…"
VP VANCE: “I actually saw this terrible story while I was coming to… pic.twitter.com/wpqDDRI6XE
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 22, 2026
Federal prosecutors are targeting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey with subpoenas for obstructing the federal government’s immigration enforcement efforts.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens have been arrested in the Minneapolis area as part of the Trump administration’s ramped-up enforcement efforts there.
Independent journalists have also uncovered widespread welfare fraud totaling an estimated $9 billion committed by members of Minnesota’s large Somali community.
