Why DHS is in Minneapolis in the First Place [WATCH]

Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security Micah Bock defended a federal law enforcement operation in Minneapolis and sharply criticized Minnesota’s sanctuary policies, accusing state and local leaders of endangering both residents and federal agents by releasing violent criminal illegal aliens back onto the streets.

Bock addressed why federal agents were deployed to Minneapolis and outlined what he described as the consequences of decisions made by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and local officials.

He said the operation focused on arresting dangerous criminals and addressing what he described as a major fraud scandal.

“This is Micah Bock, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security. This week in Minneapolis, federal agents pressed forward with critical operations to arrest dangerous, criminal, illegal aliens and uncover the largest fraud scandal in American history,” Bock said.

Bock said federal agents were forced into dangerous conditions because state and city leaders refused to cooperate with immigration enforcement.

“I want to take a moment to explain why DHS is in Minneapolis in the first place? What brought federal agents away from the warmth and safety of their families and into Minnesota? The answer is simple. The sanctuary policies of Minneapolis and Minnesota have created an existential threat to the American citizens living in these communities,” he said.

Bock explained how federal detainers are supposed to work and why he said Minnesota’s refusal to honor them has escalated risk.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

“Here’s how it all starts with decisions around if state law enforcement will well enforce the law when illegal aliens commit crimes, federal law enforcement will issue what’s called a detainer the state and local law enforcement asking for them to be detained until they can be taken into federal custody,” he said.

“This is the ideal scenario criminals stay safely behind bars. Agents are able to easily apprehend them, and communities are free to walk the streets without fear of attack from criminal illegal aliens.”

According to Bock, Minnesota leaders deliberately chose a different path.

“The crisis in Minnesota is a direct result of Governor Walz and leaders in Minneapolis intentionally deciding to take these known criminals who have violated the law and released them back into the streets,” he said.

Bock said those decisions force federal agents to track down criminals who should already be in custody.

“Now, federal agents must undertake a dangerous task, find, apprehend, detain and deport criminals who had already been under lock and key,” he said.

“This is how society crumbles when state leaders choose to defy federal law, release criminals into their communities and then urge violent mobs to riot while federal law enforcement works to arrest the criminals that the state leaders released in Minnesota.”

Bock accused Walz’s administration of releasing hundreds of violent offenders since President Donald Trump took office.

“Walz’s revolving door of Justice has released nearly 470 violent criminal illegal aliens back onto Minnesota streets since President Trump took office, these are murderers, rapists, child sex abusers and more,” he said.

He then described a specific incident during a federal operation that he said illustrates the danger created by those policies.

“On Wednesday evening during a routine traffic stop of a Venezuelan national illegally in the country, the suspect resisted arrest, fled, crashed his vehicle and then assaulted a Federal officer who was working to safely arrest him,” Bock said.

According to Bock, the situation escalated rapidly.

“This criminal illegal alien was then joined by two accomplices, also illegal aliens, who swarmed our officer with a snow shovel and broom handle, beating him mercilessly, ambushed three on one and fearing for his life, the Federal officer fired a defensive shot, striking an assailant in the leg,” he said.

Bock argued that cooperation with federal authorities would prevent such encounters.

“If Walz and Frey truly believed in protecting Minnesotans, they would be cooperating with ICE, honoring detainers and keeping these threats locked up or removed,” he said.

“We wouldn’t see federal agents surging into Minneapolis putting their lives on the line in these volatile situations like this.”

He concluded by condemning sanctuary policies and calling for a return to enforcement.

“Sanctuary policies don’t make communities safer. They create the very conditions for escalation and endanger everyone, including the dedicated men and women of federal law enforcement who are left to clean up the mess,” Bock said.

“Americans deserve better. Law and Order starts with leaders who put citizens first, not criminals.”

“One thing is abundantly clear, this is a struggle of order versus anarchy. Law and Order will prevail over the forces of chaos seeking to empower criminals over citizens,” he said. “We’ll see you next week.”

WATCH: