1. United States
2. Minn.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to stop U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from violating Minnesota law by illegally switching and removing license plates on their vehicles during operations in the Twin Cities. On December 14, observer Luke Mielke filmed federal agents outside the Whipple Federal Building sorting through stacks of license plates and replacing plates on their vehicles. This conduct directly violates Minnesota law, as DVS Director Pong Xiong confirmed in his formal warning letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Director Xiong stated that using Minnesota license plates on vehicles other than those to which the plates are assigned puts agents at risk of being stopped and cited under state law. Minnesota already has an established program that allows undercover law enforcement vehicles to receive license plates for unmarked vehicles. There is no legitimate reason for federal agents to engage in illegal plate swapping when a legal alternative exists. Governor Tim Walz correctly characterized this behavior as "doing what criminals do" rather than legitimate law enforcement. This illegal activity undermines public safety and transparency. Community members have been tracking ICE vehicles using license plate numbers to monitor federal operations in their neighborhoods. When agents operate without proper identification or swap plates to avoid scrutiny, they create dangerous precedents. This concern is particularly acute following the recent assassination of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband by a man posing as law enforcement. Director Xiong has warned that the federal agency's participation in Minnesota's undercover vehicle program could be jeopardized and that the state has the right to revoke registrations and seize license plates of vehicles with misused plates. I urge you to support enforcement of these consequences and demand that federal officials immediately comply with Minnesota law. Federal agents must not be permitted to operate above state law in our communities.