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Republican Lawyer Exits Minnesota Governor’s Race, Denounces Trump Immigration Operation
A lawyer representing the immigration officer involved in Renee Good’s fatal shooting has withdrawn from Minnesota’s gubernatorial race, breaking ranks with Republican colleagues to condemn President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement actions in the state.
Chris Madel announced his unexpected departure from the race on Monday, describing Trump’s immigration operation in Minnesota as an “unmitigated disaster.” His decision comes amid intensifying Republican calls for an investigation into federal immigration tactics following another incident on Saturday when a U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
In a video statement posted on social media platform X, Madel expressed that while he supports deporting “the worst of the worst,” the Trump administration’s enforcement methods have crossed acceptable boundaries. “I cannot support the national Republicans’ stated retribution on the citizens of our state,” Madel declared. “Nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so.”
The attorney highlighted concerning reports that U.S. citizens, “particularly those of color, live in fear” and are carrying identification documents to prove their citizenship status. Madel claimed he had personally heard from Asian and Hispanic law enforcement officers who had been stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and had spoken with “countless United States citizens who have been detained in Minnesota due to the color of their skin.”
Madel also criticized federal officers for conducting home raids using civil warrants rather than those issued by judges, calling the practice unconstitutional.
The political landscape in Minnesota shifted dramatically on January 5 when Democratic Governor Tim Walz unexpectedly announced he would not seek a third term amid questions about his administration’s handling of welfare fraud. That same week, the Trump administration deployed thousands of federal officers to Minnesota. Two days later, ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Good in Minneapolis.
Madel, who had offered pro bono legal advice to Ross though no criminal charges or civil lawsuits have been filed, said he was “honored” to help the agent. “Justice requires excellent legal representation,” he stated.
The 59-year-old political newcomer entered the governor’s race on December 1, bringing 30 years of legal experience, including corporate corruption cases and defense of law enforcement officers. He recently represented Minnesota state trooper Ryan Londregan, who was cleared of charges in the fatal shooting of Ricky Cobb II during a traffic stop.
Madel’s departure leaves several Republican contenders vying for the nomination, including MyPillow founder and Trump ally Mike Lindell, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, former state senator Dr. Scott Jensen, and state Representative Kristin Robbins. On the Democratic side, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar has filed paperwork to run but has not officially launched her campaign.
In his withdrawal announcement, Madel described himself as a “pragmatist” and suggested that national Republicans “have made it nearly impossible for a Republican to win a statewide election in Minnesota.” His decision came just two days after the Border Patrol shooting of Pretti, highlighting the growing tensions surrounding federal immigration enforcement in the state.
The intensifying controversy over immigration enforcement tactics in Minnesota represents a significant challenge for Republicans in a state where immigration has become a divisive political issue, potentially reshaping the dynamics of the upcoming gubernatorial race.
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12 Comments
This is an interesting development in the Minnesota gubernatorial race. It’s concerning to hear that the GOP candidate is citing issues with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics as a reason for dropping out. I wonder what specific concerns he has about their approach and how it’s impacting the state.
It will be important to understand the details around his criticisms of the federal immigration operations in Minnesota. Voters deserve a clear explanation of the issues he sees with the administration’s methods.
This is an unusual move for a Republican candidate to make. Criticizing the Trump administration’s immigration tactics as the reason for withdrawing from the race is a bold stance. I wonder how this will be received by the party and voters in Minnesota.
It will be important to understand the details behind his concerns about the federal immigration operations and their impacts on Minnesota citizens. Transparency around these issues is crucial.
Hmm, this is an intriguing development. A Republican gubernatorial candidate stepping away from his party’s stance on immigration enforcement is certainly noteworthy. I’m curious to learn more about the specific incidents and concerns that led to this decision.
It’s good to see politicians willing to put principles over party loyalty, even on such a politically charged issue as immigration. This could open up interesting discussions within the GOP about their approach.
This is a bold move by the GOP candidate. Denouncing the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement in his own party takes courage. I’m curious to learn more about the specific incidents and concerns that led him to this decision to withdraw from the race.
Immigration is a complex and contentious issue, so it’s admirable when politicians are willing to critically examine the impacts of enforcement tactics, even when it means bucking their party’s position.
This raises important questions about the balance between immigration enforcement and respecting civil liberties. While deporting dangerous criminals is reasonable, the reports of U.S. citizens being targeted are very troubling. I hope this spurs a deeper examination of these tactics and their impacts.
It’s good to see a Republican politician willing to break from the party line on this issue. Principled stances like this, even when they go against the dominant narrative, are important for a healthy democracy.
This seems like an unusual move, with a Republican candidate criticizing his own party’s immigration policies as the reason for dropping out of the race. I wonder if this signals a shift in the political landscape around these issues in Minnesota.
It will be interesting to see if this sparks any broader rethinking within the GOP about their immigration enforcement approach, particularly in light of reports of U.S. citizens being targeted.