Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has ignited a firestorm by publicly demanding that federal immigration authorities exit his city following a tragic incident involving a federal officer.
Earlier this week, a fatal shooting occurred during a Department of Homeland Security operation in Minneapolis, where federal authorities reported that rioters blocked Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles, and a driver allegedly attempted to use her vehicle against law enforcement, prompting the shooting; meanwhile, Frey, a Democratic mayor, issued a sharp rebuke to federal agents, escalating tensions over immigration policy in the city, as Fox News reports.
The clash has sparked intense debate over local versus federal authority, especially as Frey’s stance against deportation operations under the Trump administration continues to draw attention.
Last month, Frey signed an executive order banning the use of city property, like parking lots, for immigration-related operations.
Earlier last year, he pledged to make Minneapolis a protective haven for unauthorized migrants, ensuring local police would not collect data on immigration status or arrest individuals based solely on their presence in the country.
Under his city’s separation ordinance, Frey has positioned Minneapolis as a sanctuary of sorts, a move that has long frustrated federal efforts to enforce immigration laws.
On Nov. 4, 2025, Frey secured his third term as mayor, defeating challenger Omar Fateh in a heated race.
During his victory speech that day, he faced mockery for speaking in Somali, a gesture that didn’t land well with some in the crowd.
At his swearing-in ceremony this week, critics heckled him over the police response to two domestic violence cases, showing that local discontent isn’t limited to federal disputes.
Federal authorities recently launched an operation targeting Minnesota refugees for potential deportation amid a fraud probe, further straining relations with city leadership.
Frey didn’t hold back, declaring, “Get the f--- out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here,” blasting federal agents for causing harm instead of safety (Jacob Frey).
His blunt dismissal of the Department of Homeland Security’s self-defense claim as “garbage” only adds fuel to an already blazing conflict over jurisdiction and values (Jacob Frey).
Frey’s tenure hasn’t been without turbulence, as he was previously booed out of a protest following George Floyd’s death for not endorsing far-left demands to defund the police.
Even at a police response to a mass shooting on Aug. 27, 2025, at Annunciation Church’s school, Frey’s presence drew mixed reactions, underscoring his polarizing leadership in crisis moments.
While Frey pushes a progressive agenda on immigration, his balancing act between local safety and federal overreach keeps him in the crosshairs of both supporters and detractors.
