The Introspective

The week included federal subpoenas in Minnesota, an expanded ICE operation in Maine, and shifting enforcement rules on protesters.

Dante Belcher

Jan 23, 2026

Trump’s 53rd week brought updates to Greenland, immigration and Minnesota. Following a previous report from The Introspective detailing Trump imposing tariffs on eight NATO countries over Greenland, Trump announced a deal with NATO over the island, canceling the tariffs. This comes as European leaders held an emergency meeting over the Greenland tensions Thursday.

As anti-immigrant sentiment continues, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced “Operation Catch of the Day” in Maine, with DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin saying the agency arrested “illegal aliens convicted of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and endangering the welfare of a child.” At the same time, following a previous Introspective report highlighting U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez’s ruling that ICE agents in Minneapolis are prohibited from arresting peaceful protesters and from using nonlethal crowd-control methods, a federal appeals court paused her ruling, allowing agents to once again use force in arrests.

Meanwhile, following a previous report detailing the Department of Justice (DOJ) launching an investigation into Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey after alleging the two are impeding ICE activities in the region, subpoenas were issued to the two lawmakers.

Greenland

After back-and-forth tensions involving Greenland, Trump canceled previously imposed tariffs on eight NATO countries—Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland—that were set to begin Feb. 1 after reaching a deal with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte over the island.

“Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the secretary-general of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic region,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO nations. Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on Feb. 1.”

Trump later told reporters that the deal was “very good for the United States.”

“Well, we have a concept of a deal. I think it’s going to be a very good deal for the United States, also for them, and we’re going to work together on something having to do with the Arctic as a whole, but also Greenland, and it has to do with the security, great security, strong security and other things,” he said, adding that U.S. involvement would be “complex” and that the U.S. got “everything we wanted.”

Rutte said the meeting focused on security in the Arctic.

“How can we collectively make sure that we defend that Arctic region, therefore implementing his vision of that necessity, and he’s totally right there, because we know that the region is opening up more and more,” he told Fox News.

“The sea lanes are opening up more and more for the Russians and the Chinese and other adversaries to be active there, which is potentially a threat.”

When asked whether Greenland would remain administered by Denmark, he expressed uncertainty.

“That issue did not come up anymore in my conversations tonight with the president,” he said.

Despite the deal, European leaders held an emergency meeting over the Greenland tensions, raising implications after Trump said he would not “use force” to acquire the island.

Immigration and Minnesota

As anti-immigrant sentiment continues, ICE launched “Operation Catch of the Day” in Maine.

“Gov. Mills and her fellow sanctuary politicians in Maine have made it abundantly clear that they would rather stand with criminal illegal aliens than protect law-abiding American citizens,” said DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin in a press release.

“We have launched Operation Catch of the Day to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in the state. On the first day of operations, we arrested illegal aliens charged and convicted of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and endangering the welfare of a child,” she continued.

“Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, we are no longer allowing criminal illegal aliens to terrorize American citizens.”

Patricia Hyde, ICE deputy director, told Fox News the agency was targeting 1,400 people in the state.

“We have approximately 1,400 targets in Maine, ranging from rape of a child, drug trafficking, sexual assaults, simple assaults, driving under the influence—you name it, they’re on the target list,” she said.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills previously said she directed the Maine State Police to “work closely with local law enforcement, as necessary, to provide whatever support is needed in advance of and during any potential federal operations.”

“I want any federal agents—and the president of the United States—to know what this state stands for. We stand for the rule of law. We oppose violence. We stand for peaceful protest,” she said in a press release.

“We stand for compassion, for integrity and justice.”

At the same time, following a previous Introspective report detailing U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez’s ruling that ICE agents in Minneapolis are prohibited from arresting peaceful protesters and from using nonlethal crowd-control methods, a federal appeals court paused her ruling, allowing agents to once again use force in arrests.

“This judge put the safety of the public and federal law enforcement at risk by barring them from using crowd-control measures when rioters became violent and threatened the safety of the public and officers,” McLaughlin said, celebrating the new ruling.

“This ruling is a win for the safety of the public and every law enforcement officer. DHS does not use force against peaceful protesters or stop cars without reasonable suspicion of a crime.”

This follows backlash after ICE used tear gas against a family that was caught in a nearby protest after leaving basketball practice, leaving their 6-month-old son hospitalized.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued subpoenas to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey after alleging the two are impeding ICE activities in the region.

In a statement obtained by The Introspective, Frey accused the federal government of political retaliation.

“When the federal government weaponizes its power to try to intimidate local leaders for doing their jobs, every American should be concerned. We shouldn’t have to live in a country where people fear that federal law enforcement will be used to play politics or crack down on local voices they disagree with,” he said, adding that Minneapolis “won’t be afraid.”

“We know the difference between right and wrong and, as mayor, I’ll continue doing the job I was elected to do: keeping our community safe and standing up for our values.”

This comes as Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her also have been issued subpoenas.