DHS unleashes scathing response after Walz asks agency to ‘reassess’ enforcement

By Fox News · Fox News

FIRST ON FOX: As Minnesota continues to reel from a massive fraud scheme involving the state’s Somali community, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary McLaughlin gave a scathing response to Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz’s request for the agency to "reassess" its immigration enforcement strategy. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem , Walz said he was writing with "serious concern" regarding arrests of U.S. citizens made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis. McLaughlin told Fox News Digital that "instead of trying to spread misinformation, Tim Walz should focus on protecting American lives and thanking the brave men and women of DHS law enforcement who are risking their lives to make communities in his state safer." "Yes, U.S. citizens who assault and obstruct law enforcement have been arrested," she went on, adding, "There is a growing and disturbing trend of agitators and rioters obstructing the arrest of illegal aliens and assaulting our brave law enforcement. Our officers are facing a more than 1050% increase in assaults and an 8000% increase in death threats." ‘HE HAD YEARS TO STOP THIS’: GOP LAWMAKERS BLAST WALZ OVER MASSIVE MINNESOTA FRAUD SCHEME "Obstructing law enforcement is not protesting; it is a crime," said McLaughlin. In response to Walz raising concerns about the arrest of a U.S. citizen named "Sue," McLaughlin said the woman assaulted a federal law enforcement officer during a "targeted enforcement operation" in Minneapolis to arrest an Ecuadoran criminal illegal named Quiquintuna Capuz. According to McLaughlin, Capuz has a previous conviction for felony assault on a police officer. She said that despite the illegal’s record, a "violent group of rioters formed and began assaulting and obstructing law enforcement as they were arresting this dangerous criminal." U.S. citizen Susan Tincher was arrested after she "assaulted a federal agent, tried to break through a security perimeter set up for public…