Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is refusing to walk back his call for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to “get the f— out” of the city, even as violent protests linked to federal immigration enforcement continue for a second week.
“I stand by exactly what I said,” Frey said during an appearance on Fox & Friends.
Frey’s comments come as federal agents continue immigration operations across Minneapolis, triggering repeated confrontations between demonstrators and federal authorities. The unrest follows the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, which drew national attention and intensified political backlash against local and federal leaders.
Republican officials have criticized Frey for his rhetoric in the hours following Good’s death. During a press conference shortly after the shooting, Frey said he believed the federal government was attempting to “spin this as an action of self-defense.”
“When the conclusion is drawn by the government that’s actually doing the investigation itself, it’s much harder to trust the investigation,” Frey told Fox News correspondent Griff Jenkins. “We need to make sure that the American people can earn and gain that trust.”
Frey also raised concerns about the scope of the federal investigation, arguing that it should not be limited to federal authorities.
“Yes, I think there’s deep concerns with having exclusively the FBI and not our Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at the state level conducting the investigation itself,” he said.
The FBI has asserted authority over the investigation into Good’s death, while Minnesota officials have said the state will conduct its own inquiry. Multiple videos of the shooting have circulated online, fueling a national debate over whether the ICE agent involved was justified in using deadly force.
The Department of Homeland Security concluded that Good attempted to weaponize her vehicle against federal agents. Minnesota officials have disputed that account and are calling for an independent investigation.
Despite his persistent criticism of ICE’s recent operations, Frey seemed to reject assertions that Minneapolis refuses to cooperate with federal immigration authorities altogether.
“We are willing to work with people when it’s about murder and when it’s about crime,” Frey said. “But the truth is that this ain’t about that.”
The mayor emphasized that he does not support abolishing ICE but strongly opposes how the Trump administration is conducting immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, arguing the current approach has increased instability and unrest.
“If you commit a crime, and you are a problem on the streets of the city of Minneapolis, that has made us less safe,” Frey said. “What I am saying is that a lot of the people that ICE is picking up right now in our city are not a problem for Minneapolis.”
“We care deeply about our immigrant population. We care deeply about everybody in our city,” he added. “And what we’re seeing right now is the kind of chaos that is being caused by this massive influx of ICE agents isn’t helpful.”
As protests continue and investigations move forward, tensions remain high between Minneapolis officials, federal immigration authorities, and demonstrators, with no clear resolution in sight.
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Dear MS Seijah Drake. I think you do a great job of writing on the issues. I highly recommend you investigatge and possible read my coauthored book: “HIJACKED: Our REPUBLIC, Unless We Can SAVE IT. You can find out about it on our aformentioned website. Best Regards — J. Kevin Dolan
Just like they call Trump a felon… regardless of why or that fact all the legal proceedings were a fabricated ambush/lie… but can’t admit illegals have broken the law… Dems / White liberals, especially women are an American eating cancer, we’re in stage 3.