Newt's World – Episode 941: Chad Wolf on ICE in Minneapolis

Date: February 1, 2026
Host: Newt Gingrich
Guest: Chad Wolf (Chair, America First Policy Institute’s Homeland Security and Immigration Division; former Acting Secretary, DHS)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Newt Gingrich sits down with Chad Wolf to discuss the recent ICE operations crisis in Minneapolis, Minnesota—a city currently at the epicenter of national controversy over immigration enforcement, officer-involved shootings, and sanctuary policy debates. The conversation delves into the underlying policy and political dynamics, contrasts with other states, examines the role and rhetoric of local leadership, and features an exclusive press conference from Tom Homan, President Trump’s "border czar," now overseeing ICE operations in Minnesota.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Crisis Context in Minneapolis

• Under President Biden, millions of undocumented immigrants were resettled in the U.S. interior. With the Trump administration’s new border policies sealing illegal entry, enforcement focus has shifted to addressing those already inside the country, especially dangerous or criminal elements [(04:08)].
• Over the past three and a half weeks, three officer-involved shootings occurred in Minneapolis during ICE operations—two were fatal, fueling further political and community tension [(04:08)].
• Tom Homan, a career immigration enforcer and former Obama appointee, was dispatched to Minnesota to bring order and facilitate cooperation with local officials [(05:41)].

2. Challenges from Local Politics & Rhetoric

• Minnesota’s Democratic leadership—including Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey—has adopted a highly oppositional stance toward ICE operations, filing an 80-page lawsuit against DHS and employing confrontational rhetoric [(06:30), (07:17)].
• Chad Wolf attributes much of the public unrest and violence to local leaders’ inflammatory directives, which label ICE officers as “Nazis,” “propaganda machines,” and “executioners,” ultimately inciting aggressive street protests [(07:17)]:

  "They also are referred to as Nazis and propaganda machines and executioners. And what that does over time is it activates the activists, it activates the residents there..." – Chad Wolf [07:17]

• Wolf argues these tactics are counterproductive, leading to more officers operating in communities rather than jails, increasing risk for everyone [(09:55)].

3. The Impact of Sanctuary Policies

• Minneapolis’s sanctuary policies prevent city and county jails from holding criminal illegal aliens for ICE pickup, instead releasing them on bail and forcing ICE into dangerous neighborhood operations [(09:26), (09:55)].
• Paradoxically, these policies make communities less safe and drive up the required ICE presence, according to Wolf:

  "The mayors that say we are a sanctuary city are actually encouraging more ICE officers in their community because of their policies." – Chad Wolf [09:55]

• There are signs of evolving policy: Tom Homan’s negotiations appeared to yield preliminary agreements for ICE to access jails for targeted arrests, potentially de-escalating street confrontations [(09:55)].

4. Comparing Minnesota to Florida

• Florida, under Governor DeSantis, maintains a 287(g) agreement, fostering close ICE-local law enforcement cooperation for smoothly identifying and detaining criminal illegal immigrants [(14:58)].
• Wolf emphasizes: Trump’s ICE is not asking Minnesota to reach that level, but only to allow ICE to enter jails to pick up 1,300 current criminal detainees—a request that was until recently refused [(14:58)].

5. Data and Success of Immigration Enforcement

• The Trump administration, credited with a dramatic decrease (90%) in illegal border crossings, now targets removal of criminal aliens, many with final orders after due process [(19:56)].
• Notable statistics:

  "During President Trump's first year, ICE arrested 43,000 potential national security risks, 1,400 known or suspected terrorists, and has removed 1,390 of them and more than 7,000 gang members." – Newt Gingrich [21:49]

• Wolf contends Democrats resist Trump’s policies primarily out of partisan opposition, despite broad public support for law enforcement effectiveness [(22:40)].

6. Funding ICE and the Political Fight

• Democrats have escalated to threats of defunding ICE and shutting down the government over the agency’s operations, tied to outrage over Minneapolis events [(27:26)].
• Wolf warns of the risks:

  "To simply say, I'm going to shut the government down because I want to defund ICE... What they're saying is I want criminal illegal aliens to stay here in the United States." – Chad Wolf [27:48]

7. Organized Opposition to ICE

• Questions rise about whether some anti-ICE protests are coordinated and funded operations, rather than spontaneous community actions [29:21].

  "I can just, given my experience... I would say 50% of those violent agitators, probably even more, are paid. They are networked, they are funded. And this is now a professional atmosphere." – Chad Wolf [29:39]

• Both Wolf and Gingrich stress the legal dividing line between protest and obstruction/violence against law enforcement [(31:42)].

8. America First Policy Institute’s Vision

• Wolf describes AFPI as a “do tank,” focusing on action-oriented, real-world policy implementation for national security, border control, economic prosperity, and more [(33:38), (35:04)].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On local rhetoric fueling unrest:

  "If the residents hear local leaders say that they are the enemy, well, then you're going to go out into the streets and you're going to act like they're the enemy." — Chad Wolf [07:17]

• On sanctuary policy paradox:

  "The irony... mayors that say we are a sanctuary city are actually encouraging more ICE officers in their community because of their policies." — Chad Wolf [09:55]

• On Democrat political risks:

  "To shut down the federal government because you don't like how ICE is doing its job is wild to me." — Chad Wolf [27:48]

• On the right to protest vs. the law:

  "Your right of free speech is not your right of obstruction." — Newt Gingrich [31:08]

• On Homan’s credibility:

  "He’s walked the walk, right? He’s done the midnight patrols, he’s been on the border late at night, he’s seen cartel members, he’s removed dangerous people." — Chad Wolf [18:34]

Tom Homan's Press Conference Highlights

Timestamps below refer to Homan’s speech (35:39–55:14):

• Intro and Aim:
  Homan calls for solutions, not photo ops, after being dispatched by President Trump to restore law and order. Emphasizes that public safety is a shared value even when there are disagreements [(35:39)].

• On Jail Cooperation:

  “Give us access to the illegal alien public safety threat in the safety and security of a jail... It’s safer for the community, it’s safer for the agent and they’re safer for the alien because anything can happen on the street.” [(43:39)]

• Operational Impact of Sanctuary Policy:
  When jails deny ICE access, operations expand into neighborhoods, requiring 15–16 agents versus just one if cooperation occurs in the jail—raising risks for everyone [(45:39)].

• Clarification on ICE Targeting:

  “We will conduct targeted enforcement operations. Targeted. What we've done for decades, when we hit the streets, we know exactly who we're looking for... not surrendering the President’s mission.” [(47:39)]

• On Public Rhetoric:

  “The hostile rhetoric and dangerous threats and hate must stop. And we all agreed to that... because of the rhetoric, because of the threats, because of the assaults, having sent security teams out with arrest teams which surge the city with additional resources.” [(50:38)]

• Final Plea on Law and Common Sense:

  “If you don’t like what ICE is doing, instead of protesting this building, go protest Congress... ICE is enforcing laws enacted by Congress and signed by the President... I started with President Reagan and ending with President Trump. Every administration, we enforced the same laws.” [(53:39)]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Start Time | |-------------------------------------------------|------------| | Introduction of Topic & Chad Wolf | 02:40 | | What’s Happening in Minnesota (ICE crisis) | 03:55 | | Sanctuary policy & local political conflict | 06:30 | | Cultural/Political Roots of Sanctuary Crisis | 09:26 | | Comparison: Florida vs Minnesota | 14:45 | | Nationwide ICE Enforcement Statistics | 16:43 | | Tom Homan's Credentials & Role | 18:03 | | Impact of Trump Border Policies | 19:30 | | National Security Threat Removals Statistics | 21:49 | | Political Opposition and Funding ICE | 27:26 | | Organized (Funded) Protest Allegations | 29:21 | | AFPI’s Mission | 33:11 | | Tom Homan’s Full Press Conference | 35:39 |

Conclusion

This episode provides a comprehensive, insider’s view of the ICE enforcement crisis in Minneapolis, illuminating the consequences of sanctuary policies, the effects of anti-ICE rhetoric, and recent policy shifts. Through candid discussion, granular policy analysis, and first-hand insights from Tom Homan’s press conference, Newt’s World highlights both the complexity of immigration enforcement and the political, operational challenges ICE faces—offering unique context rarely found in mainstream media reporting. The tone throughout is serious, frank, and defense-oriented, in line with the “America First” policy focus.

For more on the America First Policy Institute:
americafirstpolicy.com