UPDATE: Gov. Walz signals I.C.E. surge could end soon in the Twin Cities

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR/FOX) — Gov. Tim Walz says Trump Administration officials are talking days, not weeks and months of the ongoing I.C.E. occupation in the Twin Cities as he says small businesses are struggling.

“I spoke with Tom Homan yesterday, spoke with Susie Wiles, the president’s chief of staff this morning. We’re very much in a trust but verify mode. but it’s my expectation and we will hear more from them, I think, in the next day or so that we are talking days, not weeks and months of this occupation. And it’s an expectation that we will continue to get cooperation on joint investigations of the crimes that were committed or potentially committed against Minnesotans, and then a backing off of the unprecedented what happened when they said this retribution campaign, the very unqualified, cabinet secretaries all took that as free rein to come to Minnesota and bring retribution to us,” said Walz.

Speaking at a nearly empty food hall, he says many businesses are feeling real-time impacts of I.C.E.’s surge on Minnesota.

“Well the impact is pretty clear right here. This place should be hopping. This place should be full. We should have the four employees that would be working this kitchen be working here. They’re not. Which the trickle-down effect of that is how do they make rent? How do they pay for food? How do they do the things they need to do? And so I think it’s been clear over the last nearly three months now that we are long past this being anything about immigration,” said Walz.

Officials have said immigrants are afraid to get out and shop for fear of getting detained by I.C.E. agents.

According to the governor’s office, a January survey conducted by Latino Economic Development Center in St. Paul found 44% of surveyed businesses had temporarily closed.

Fewer than 20% were operating normally.

“I think here later this week, or we’ll try and get something out, put a package of relief together, especially focused around businesses. Very much we had to do this during COVID. COVID was something that we couldn’t control. This is an entirely manmade and avoidable avoidable catastrophe that’s fell on these businesses. But I think it’s still important for us to put something together to make sure that they get back on their feet. These are resilient folks. These are entrepreneurs. They know how to make things work, but what has been brought upon them, without a little bit of help, is going to be very difficult,” said Walz.

Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are still trying to find a balance on proposals to fund Homeland Security.

Democrats say The White House’s offer does not address, the quote, “Concerns Americans have about I.C.E.’s lawless conduct.”