Did the Minneapolis Police chief instruct law enforcement officers to break the law?
By Easton Martin | December 3, 2025
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara recently advised Somali residents to call 911 if they see ICE agents wearing masks, promising that police would “immediately respond” and “intervene.” While likely well-intentioned, such a statement raises serious legal concerns.
Under federal law, interfering with a federal officer performing their duties, including civil immigration arrests, is a crime. Statutes like 18 U.S.C. § 111 and § 1501 make it unlawful to assault, resist, or impede federal agents, with potential criminal penalties for obstruction. This means that any local police action that blocks ICE from carrying out lawful arrests could expose officers to prosecution.
Additionally, the Minneapolis Police Department’s own policy prohibits involvement in federal immigration enforcement. MPD officers are not authorized to make arrests or otherwise interfere with ICE operations, and promising intervention conflicts with these policies. Legal precedent shows that attempts to obstruct federal immigration enforcement ,even by public officials, can result in serious charges.
