Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey isn’t walking back his demand for ICE to leave his city. In a tense segment on FOX & Friends Wednesday morning, the Democratic mayor defended his profanity-laced message to federal agents, arguing that the massive immigration enforcement operation currently sweeping Minnesota is based on “retribution” rather than public safety.
The interview comes on the heels of a shooting involving an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Host Griff Jenkins pressed Frey on his immediate reaction to the incident—where the mayor had told ICE to “get the [expletive] out”—asking if, in hindsight, the comments were appropriate.
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Frey stood firm. His frustration, he explained, stems from the federal government declaring the shooting an act of “self-defense” before a full investigation concluded. He expressed deep concern that the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has been “booted” from the inquiry, leaving federal agencies to investigate themselves.
“I mean, look, we’ve all seen the video,” Frey said. “I don’t need to pass judgments here on it… but I hope that people can trust that I love my city.”
The conversation quickly pivoted to the broader scope of federal operations. Jenkins characterized the surge as a necessary cleanup of “criminal illegal aliens” who flourished under previous administration policies, citing specific cases of violent crimes committed by migrants released by local authorities.
Frey rejected the premise. While insisting Minneapolis is “anti-murder” and “anti-crime,” the mayor argued that the current federal operation—which he dubbed the largest immigration enforcement action on record—is targeting neighborhoods indiscriminately based on race.
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“If this were about murder or crime, the answer is we do work with the federal government,” Frey said. “The truth is that this ain’t about that.”
He claimed agents are pulling U.S. citizens off the streets and creating chaos that threatens the city’s economic rebound. According to Frey, crime is down in “virtually every category,” but the heavy federal presence is frightening workers and forcing schools to close.
Jenkins pushed back, questioning why Minneapolis maintains a “separation ordinance”—effectively a sanctuary policy—that limits cooperation with ICE detainers. He cited the case of Victoria Eileen Harwell, killed by an Ecuadorian migrant with a prior record, as evidence of the policy’s failure.
Frey defended the ordinance, stating its goal is to keep local police focused on carjackings and shootings rather than “hunting down a dad that just dropped his kids off at daycare.”
READ: DHS Rips Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Claim Of ICE ‘Disappearing’ Citizens As A ‘Ridiculous Lie’
Toward the end of the segment, the discussion shifted to the massive fraud scandal involving pandemic relief funds in Minnesota.
When asked about Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison’s roles, Frey deflected blame from the administration, noting that convictions are happening but expressing alarm that federal prosecutors handling the case recently resigned in protest.
“When you commit a crime in this country, you are held accountable… as an individual,” Frey concluded. “Entire communities… are not held accountable for the actions of the individuals.”
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