Minnesota Denies DOJ’s Data Request Following Pretti Shooting: NPR

Jordi Bashirian

Published: January 26, 2026 7:13 PM ET

Minnesota is currently engaged in a clash with the Trump administration regarding federal immigration enforcement practices. This situation intensified following the recent shooting of Alex Pretti by immigration officers, further complicating relations between state officials and federal authorities.

Minnesota Denies DOJ’s Data Request Following Pretti Shooting

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, has issued a demand for Minnesota to share a variety of data. This includes personal records regarding Medicaid and food assistance programs, particularly the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The request also seeks access to Minnesota’s voter data.

Background and Context

Date of Shooting: Alex Pretti was shot on the same day Bondi’s letter was sent.
Current Administration: The Trump administration is pushing for stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
Previous Incidents: This shooting marks the second fatal encounter involving federal agents this month.

In her letter, Bondi urged Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz to abandon what she described as “sanctuary policies” and to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Additionally, she requested the state cooperate in federal immigration enforcement efforts. However, Governor Walz publicly criticized the letter, asserting that the federal government’s claims regarding Minnesota’s cooperation with ICE are unfounded.

Voter Data Request and Legal Challenges

The DOJ’s request for voter data is part of a broader initiative targeting states that Trump lost in the 2020 election. Minnesota is one of over twenty states resisting compliance with this demand. The DOJ argues that this data is necessary to enforce federal election law. However, legal experts have pointed out that these requests lack legal justification.

Federal Court Rulings: Courts in California and Oregon have dismissed similar DOJ requests as “unprecedented and illegal.”
State Response: Minnesota’s chief voting official, Steve Simon, firmly rejected Bondi’s request, emphasizing the lack of authority for the federal government to obtain private data.

Election law expert Rick Hasen criticized this situation as an attempt by the federal government to overreach and undermine state sovereignty. He expressed concerns that these actions are not solely focused on immigration enforcement, but rather an effort to exert control over states with differing political views.

Implications for Minnesota

The current tension between Minnesota and the Trump administration raises significant questions about privacy, state rights, and federal overreach. Minnesota officials firmly believe that cooperation with federal requests may compromise the rights of its residents and set a troubling precedent for the future.