As Gov. Tim Walz prepares to testify before Congress Thursday on the impact of sanctuary state policies, another top Republican lawmaker from Minnesota is speaking out.
In an exclusive interview with Alpha News, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer predicted Walz would “deflect, filibuster, and even outright lie” during the hearing—part of a broader effort, Emmer said, to reframe his immigration record as inclusive, rather than dangerous.
“Minnesotans are not fools—they’ve known the consequences of Walz’s pro-illegal immigration agenda for six years,” Emmer said. “I expect him to try and own it and make it sound like something it’s not.”
The hearing, led by Republicans on the House Oversight Committee, will examine policies in so-called “sanctuary states” that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Minnesota has not formally declared itself a sanctuary state, but Walz has backed sanctuary policies in the past, including restrictions on how local law enforcement can work with ICE. He’s also signed laws granting state benefits to illegal immigrants.
After yet another memo from MPD Asst. Chief Katie Blackwell, some Minneapolis officers express their frustrations:
“It for sure says MPD can’t respond to a federal officer needs help call IF they are enforcing immigration matters.” pic.twitter.com/JoKi5g0AH2
— Liz Collin (@lizcollin) June 8, 2025
Additionally, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office recently told Minnesota law enforcement agencies that they “risk significant civil liability if they enforce immigration detainers.”
Earlier this week, Alpha News spoke with House Oversight Committee member Rep. Jim Jordan, who called Walz’s policies “crazy” and warned they put law enforcement at risk.
Federal raid in Minneapolis fuels debate
Emmer addressed the fallout from last week’s federal raid in Minneapolis where ICE agents were part of a coordinated operation targeting a massive drug and money laundering scheme linked to 900 pounds of meth—not an immigration enforcement action.
Still, the visible presence of ICE logos sparked protests and public outcry, something Emmer claims is a result of Walz turning “ICE” into a dirty word.
“They’re trying to demonize the word, when in fact this is Immigration and Customs Enforcement. These officers are doing nothing more than trying to apply the letter of the law that was created to protect Minnesotans,” he said.
Emmer said Attorney General Keith Ellison and Walz have consistently sided against law enforcement, citing the state’s directive on immigration detainers and its alignment with left-wing activist groups like the ACLU.
“This administration could have sided with and defended the counties that are trying to do their job,” he said. “Instead, along with his sidekick Keith Ellison, they sided against law enforcement’s efforts to keep Minnesotans safe.”
Should sanctuary states lose federal funding?
Asked whether states like Minnesota should lose federal funding for defying immigration enforcement, Emmer said the priority is exposing what he called Walz’s “anti-Minnesota policies.”
“This guy has failed to take care of his home state,” Emmer said, pointing to taxpayer-funded benefits like free college tuition and health care for illegal immigrants. “Minnesotans deserve better.”
He also previewed what he hopes Thursday’s hearing will accomplish: showing that leadership and honesty matter.
“Tim Walz and his Democrat colleagues think it’s more important to defend MS-13 gang members, rapists, and murderers, and try to humanize terrorists and cartel members at the expense of hardworking, honest Minnesotans,” Emmer said. “It’s time he stopped talking and started being honest.”
Tim Walz on illegal immigrant and alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia: “If you’re not speaking up for this man, there will be no one left to speak up for you.” pic.twitter.com/UQLjUBEj9Z
— Anthony Gockowski (@AntGockowski) April 16, 2025
Linking Walz and Newsom
Drawing parallels to California’s ongoing unrest, Emmer said the chaos unfolding in Los Angeles—marked by looting and lawlessness—feels like déjà vu for Minnesotans.
“Minnesotans know all too well the chaos that ensues when Democrat governors fail to work with law enforcement to keep their citizens safe,” Emmer said. “We don’t have to go any further than comparing Tim Walz’s riots of 2020 in Minneapolis with what’s going on in to L.A. right now.”
“Tim Walz is nothing but Gavin Newsom in a flannel shirt,” he added.
On fairness in girls’ sports
Emmer also weighed in on an explosive debate that has drawn national headlines, and this time, it started in Minnesota: the case of a transgender softball pitcher who helped lead Champlin Park High School to a state championship.
“We don’t hate anybody. It’s a matter of safety and a matter of fairness,” Emmer said. “Boys should play with biological boys. Girls should play with biological girls.”
Emmer called it a “wedge issue,” noting that 77 million Americans rejected Walz’s position.
“This doubling down on failed messages is only going to produce more failure and alienate more Minnesotans and Americans.”
He accused Walz of ignoring voters in favor of ideology.
“It’s pretty clear Tim Walz and his colleagues don’t give a damn what Minnesotans or Americans think. He’s arrogant, dishonest, and the more he doubles down, the more people he alienates.”
‘A conflict of interest’ at the Star Tribune
The congressman also criticized Minnesota’s largest newspaper for failing to hold Walz accountable—pointing to its current publisher, Steve Grove, a past Walz-appointee who served in the governor’s administration.
“It’s the Tim Walz Tribune,” Emmer said bluntly. “We know that [Grove] was in direct communication with the Walz administration on emails—it was a little embarrassing.”
Emmer was referring to a 2023 media report, which revealed that Grove texted Walz’s chief of staff to personally disavow an editorial cartoon that drew criticism from some Democrats.
“It’s a gross conflict of interest when it comes to investigative reporting,” Emmer said.
“Frankly, Alpha News is the only outlet willing to tell the truth about Tim Walz.”
“A Hearing with Sanctuary State Governors” will take place on Thursday, June 12 at 9 a.m., and will be livestreamed here.
The post EXCLUSIVE: ‘Minnesotans see through this guy’s fraud’: Emmer slams Walz ahead of congressional hearing appeared first on Alpha News MN.
Click this link for the original source of this article.
Author: Jenna Gloeb
This content is courtesy of, and owned and copyrighted by, http://alphanewsmn.com and its author. This content is made available by use of the public RSS feed offered by the host site and is used for educational purposes only. If you are the author or represent the host site and would like this content removed now and in the future, please contact USSANews.com using the email address in the Contact page found in the website menu. Follow Jonah on Twitter at @JTorgerud.
