Stephen Miller orders local law enforcement in Minnesota to 'stand down and surrender' amid ICE protests
Stephen Miller claimed that local law enforcement in Minneapolis has been 'ordered to stand down and surrender' amid local protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Miller is the architect of Donald Trump's immigration policy and has strongly backed ICE in the wake of the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Minneapolis woman Renee Good earlier this month.
New York Post columnist Miranda Devine claimed that 'local cops have gone AWOL' after Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said his city was 'under siege' from ICE agents.
Miller wrote in response on social media Monday: 'Only federal officers are upholding the law. Local and state police have been ordered to stand down and surrender.'
A spokesperson for the Minneapolis Police Department told The Daily Mail they had not gotten such an order.
'Those claims are untrue,' Sergeant Garrett Parten said.
The Daily Mail has also reached out to Mayor Frey and ICE for comment.
Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy and his homeland security adviser, has promised to oversee the 'largest deportation operation in American history' by targeting the country's estimated 11 million undocumented migrants.
Stephen Miller claimed that local law enforcement in Minneapolis have been 'ordered to stand down and surrender' amid local protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Minneapolis Police and Minnesota State Police declare an unlawful assembly at the intersection of Park and Third Street in Downtown Minneapolis
He recently told The Charlie Kirk Show that protesters in Minnesota are trying to take down the Trump government.
'Understand that this is clearly an insurgency against the federal government. They are describing a federal government as an occupying force. Just think about that for a second.'
Miller added that they would seek charges 'not just against rioters but against government officials who are abetting and encouraging' riots.
His latest words come the day after a shocking protest at a St Paul church that saw Sunday services interrupted by left wing agitators.
Protesters interrupted Sunday service at Cities Church in St Paul, angrily demanding 'ICE out' and accusing a senior leader of the church of working with the agency.
One demonstrator said they were 'demanding justice for' Renee Good, the 37-year-old Minneapolis mother fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross earlier this month.
'This will not stand, they cannot pretend to be a house of God, while harboring someone who is commanding ICE agents to terrorize our communities,' Nekima Levy Armstrong said.
The protester was being questioned by Don Lemon, who followed the marchers as they stormed into the service.
Miller wrote Monday: 'Only federal officers are upholding the law. Local and state police have been ordered to stand down and surrender'
Miller's comments come the day after a left-wing mob stormed a Minnesota church to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stopping services and leaving worshippers furious
The protest action disrupted the Sunday services, with many worshippers leaving in disgust after being harassed by the protesters.
'These people have come into our house and they've interrupted our worship. Everybody's gone home, their point has been proven worthless and so, in the end, I think they lose,' said one churchgoer.
'I feel violated, I feel interrupted, I feel angry.'
Lemon, who operates as an independent journalist after being fired by CNN, spoke to one of the pastors at Cities Church, who said the protesters refused to have a peaceful dialogue.
'No one is willing to talk. I have to take care of my church and my family,' he said, before asking Lemon to leave.
Bondi wrote Sunday that she'd spoken with the pastor and reassured him that any attacks 'are being met with the full force of federal law.'
'If state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness, this Department of Justice will remain mobilized to prosecute federal crimes and ensure that the rule of law prevails.'
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the protesters will be investigated by the DOJ's Civil Rights Division under the FACE Act, which criminalizes using force or threats at churches.
ICE's social media account posted Sunday: 'Agitators aren’t just targeting our officers. Now they’re targeting churches, too. They're going from hotel to hotel, church to church, hunting for federal law enforcement who are risking their lives to protect Americans.'
They blamed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for 'whipping these mobs into a frenzy and then allowing them to run rampant.'
'We won’t be deterred. ICE isn’t going anywhere.'
The protests grabbed the attention of Donald Trump, as Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tweeted: 'President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship. The Department of Justice has launched a full investigation into the despicable incident that took place earlier today at a church in Minnesota.'
Lemon may face a federal investigation for joining the mob of protesters.
Dhillon warned Lemon on Monday that his antics could land him in hot water, and said the independent journalist is 'on notice.'
In another social media post, Dhillon said she was in touch with Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI, and said she would be 'all over' Lemon's actions in Minnesota.
'We are investigating potential criminal violations of federal law,' the prosecutor added.
