Chaos Claim Hits Minnesota Leaders

October 9, 2026

U.S. Department of Homeland Security flag — Photo: christianthiel.net / Shutterstock

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin says Democratic leaders are using immigration fights to push the country toward socialism, and Minnesota is the latest flashpoint.

Story Snapshot

Mullin links Democratic sanctuary stances to a broader socialist agenda.
Minnesota officials push back, saying the state is not a sanctuary and does cooperate with federal agents.
The White House highlights Democratic quotes in Minnesota resisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Research finds sanctuary policies do not raise crime, complicating “chaos” claims.

Mullin’s Charge: Immigration Policy as Ideological Project

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has argued that Democratic leaders want “open borders” and are “openly embracing socialism,” tying sanctuary fights to a larger ideological shift. He frames resistance to Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of a strategy to create “chaos” and weaken enforcement nationwide. His comments have come in interviews and public events since spring. The language is sharp, and it speaks to a wider voter worry that elites shape rules to suit politics, not public safety.

The White House has amplified this line by pointing to statements from Minnesota Democrats who praised sanctuary ideas, pledged to help undocumented residents, or refused to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Officials cited remarks from city and state leaders, arguing these positions undercut federal law and endanger the public. The administration uses Minnesota as a case study, saying it shows how local resistance can block arrests, complicate detainers, and send a permissive signal to would-be offenders.

Minnesota’s Response: Not a Sanctuary, Some Cooperation

Governor Tim Walz has countered that Minnesota is not a sanctuary state. He says the Legislature passed no such law, and he has signed none. He also says the state shares information with the Department of Homeland Security when people in prison are undocumented and checks immigration status in state facilities. Representative Betty McCollum adds that Minnesota does not ban local officials from sharing information or responding to federal requests, pushing back on claims of blanket noncooperation.

These statements do not erase local discretion. City leaders in Minneapolis have promised to help undocumented residents and to avoid cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Those pledges, celebrated by some Democrats, fueled the White House critique and Mullin’s national message. The result is a split picture: state leaders stress formal cooperation channels, while some local leaders reject direct work with immigration officers. That gap drives the ongoing fight over who sets the rules.

What the Research Says About Crime and “Chaos”

Academic work on sanctuary policies has found no clear link to higher crime. One study showed such policies reduced deportations of people with no criminal convictions without changing removals for violent crimes. Other reviews report either no effect or modest crime declines after local limits on immigration enforcement. These findings do not settle moral or legal questions. But they challenge the idea that sanctuary rules alone cause a crime wave or engineered disorder.

🚨 JUST NOW: DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin is making a major claim about the Democrats’ immigration agenda—arguing that changing the country’s demographics is part of a broader effort to reshape America politically.

His words:

“They were wanting to change the demographics of… pic.twitter.com/50mUXgPmG5

— NanceMace (@Nancymace55) October 7, 2026

For readers across the spectrum, two truths sit side by side. First, some Democratic officials in Minnesota have embraced sanctuary language and promised not to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Second, the governor and a senior member of Congress say the state keeps key cooperation paths open and never adopted a statewide sanctuary law. The data record also shows no general crime surge tied to sanctuary policies, which should inform the debate’s heat and claims.