Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s shocking comparison of routine ICE immigration enforcement to the Holocaust has drawn a swift and stern rebuke from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum as “deeply offensive.”
Walz Invokes Anne Frank in Immigration Critique
On January 25, 2026, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz held a press briefing in St. Paul where he compared federal immigration operations to the Holocaust. He claimed children in Minnesota homes are “hiding in their houses, afraid to go outside,” directly referencing Anne Frank’s diary of two years in a secret annex before Nazi capture. This statement followed the January 24 fatal shooting of 37-year-old VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Pretti held a legal concealed-carry permit and had no criminal record. Walz accused the Trump administration of gaslighting and tampering with evidence while vowing continued defiance against Operation Metro Surge.
🚨 Did Tim Walz just rebrand Anne Frank as an illegal alien? What’s WRONG with this guy?
She was hiding from extermination.
Not immigration enforcement.Absolutely vile. pic.twitter.com/idQtoRB6FE
— Jews Fight Back 🇺🇸🇮🇱 (@JewsFightBack) January 25, 2026
Federal Operation Targets Sanctuary Chaos
Operation Metro Surge represents President Trump’s intensified enforcement against sanctuary jurisdictions like Minnesota, launched after his 2025 inauguration. The Twin Cities area enforces policies shielding illegal immigrants, clashing with federal mandates for data sharing on Medicaid and SNAP programs. AG Pam Bondi sent a warning letter to Walz on January 24, urging repeal of these policies and full cooperation to support federal law enforcement. Bondi highlighted agent safety risks amid local non-cooperation, which federal officials link to recent violence including a second fatal shooting this month involving Renee Nicole Good.
Federal accounts state Pretti was armed and resisted during the encounter, while local narratives claim she had disarmed beforehand. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced an investigation into the incident, defending agents operating in a high-risk environment created by state obstruction. VP JD Vance and Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino countered local smears portraying Pretti as a victim of overreach. President Trump blamed Walz’s “Democrat-ensued chaos” on Truth Social for endangering lives and called for an end to resistance.
Holocaust Museum Issues Strong Rebuke
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum publicly rebuked Walz’s comparison as “deeply offensive,” emphasizing the sanctity of Holocaust memory. Equating standard immigration enforcement—upholding federal law against illegal presence—to Nazi persecution trivializes the systematic murder of six million Jews, including Anne Frank. This backlash underscores conservative concerns over inflammatory rhetoric that politicizes sacred history to defend sanctuary policies shielding lawbreakers. Such analogies erode historical truth and fuel unnecessary division.
Walz doubled down, snapping at Bondi’s demands by stating Minnesota cooperates but refuses to “do their job.” Protests continue with church disruptions and alleged attacks on agents, including injuries like finger-biting. Tensions persist in a state-federal probe standoff, straining resources and law enforcement coordination.
'Deeply Offensive': Holocaust Museum Rebukes Tim Walz Over Anne Frank Comparison https://t.co/DyClr6cZsX
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) January 26, 2026
Implications for Law, Order, and Values
Sanctuary defiance endangers agents and citizens, as evidenced by two deaths and rising violence in Minneapolis. Short-term, expect escalated protests and political polarization ahead of midterms. Long-term, legal battles may affirm federal supremacy over state obstruction, setting precedents for overriding blue-state resistance. This clash boosts support for Trump’s America First agenda, prioritizing border security and limited government over open-border chaos. Communities face heightened fears, but enforcement restores rule of law for legal residents.
Conservatives see Walz’s stance as government overreach in reverse—prioritizing illegal immigrants over American safety and historical integrity. Federal victories here reinforce constitutional authority against partisan sabotage.
Sources:
Fox News: Tim Walz compares Minnesota ICE actions to Holocaust, Anne Frank ‘hiding in houses’