Minneapolis Mayor Calls ICE 'Bullies,' Warns Fellow Mayors: 'Your City Could Be Next'

At the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey used his platform to sharply criticize the federal immigration enforcement presence in his city, calling agents "bullies" and warning other municipal leaders that similar operations could target their jurisdictions if local officials stay silent.

Frey’s Message to Mayors
Frey framed the issue as a broader battle for civil liberties and local authority. "We are on the front lines of a very important battle, and it's important that we aren't silenced. That we aren't put down," he said. "This is not a time to bend our heads in despair, or out of fear that we may be next, because if we do not speak up, if we do not step out, it will be your city that is next."

"If we do not speak up... it will be your city that is next." — Mayor Jacob Frey

Allegations of Overreach
Frey criticized the scale and tactics of the federal deployment, saying "thousands of federal agents have descended on a city that has 600 police officers." He accused immigration authorities of detaining people based on appearance and of trampling constitutional rights: "People have been indiscriminately pulled off the street... solely because they looked like they were from Mexico or Ecuador or Somalia."

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey delivers a speech to the U.S. Conference of Mayors 94th Winter Meeting, Thursday, in Washington, D.C.

He also argued that, despite data showing crime is down "in virtually every category" and "virtually every neighborhood," the federal presence has made Minneapolis "less safe" by sowing fear and chaos among residents.

Call To End Operation Metro Surge
Frey urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to end "Operation Metro Surge" in Minneapolis and to scale back similar immigration enforcement actions nationwide. He repeatedly insisted his concerns were not partisan: "This is not even about immigration. This is about silencing a narrative or a political position that differs from that of the federal administration."

Accusations Against Federal Agencies
Frey accused the Department of Justice of being used as a political tool and said investigations into him and other local elected officials amounted to "bullying" motivated by retaliation for speaking out on behalf of constituents.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks to the press after addressing the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Thursday, in Washington, D.C.

Federal Response And Local Meetings
Border czar Tom Homan visited the Twin Cities this week and has said he will remain in Minnesota "until the problem's gone" while working on a managed drawdown of federal resources. Homan described a meeting with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison as "very productive," and Ellison agreed to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when local jails release violent undocumented immigrants.

The article also notes that tensions in Minneapolis have coincided with unrest in which Minnesota residents Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti died during incidents involving federal law enforcement, a development that has further intensified the debate. While in Washington, Frey said he had no scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump that day but planned to meet other elected officials at the Capitol.

Context
This exchange reflects an escalating clash between city leaders defending local civil liberties and federal officials pursuing immigration enforcement priorities. The debate raises questions about federal-local coordination, civil rights protections, and how cities respond when they believe federal actions imperil community safety.