Jacob Frey, the Democratic mayor of Minneapolis, was sworn in this week for his third and final term—and wasted no time reminding the country exactly where he stands on immigration enforcement. Following the fatal shooting of a woman by a federal immigration officer, Frey lashed out at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, telling them in no uncertain terms to “get the f— out of Minneapolis.” Very classy. Very mayoral.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, federal authorities were conducting an operation when rioters began blocking ICE vehicles. One driver allegedly attempted to use her vehicle as a weapon against law enforcement—an incident DHS described as an act of “domestic terrorism.” Frey, however, dismissed the department’s statement that the shooting occurred in self-defense, calling it “garbage.” Because when federal agencies explain their side, apparently that’s just inconvenient noise.
At a press conference, Frey accused ICE of making the city less safe, claiming their presence was hurting people and tearing families apart. This line has become a familiar talking point among Democratic leaders who prefer political posturing over enforcing the law—nothing new there.
Frey recently defeated Omar Fateh, dubbed by critics as the “Mamdani of Minneapolis,” to secure his third term. He was later ridiculed for delivering part of his victory speech in Somali, a move that raised eyebrows among many residents wondering who exactly their mayor is prioritizing. Shortly afterward, Frey issued an executive order banning the use of city property, including parking lots, for immigration enforcement operations—because nothing says “rule of law” like actively blocking it.
Earlier last year, Frey doubled down on his resistance to President Trump’s immigration policies, declaring Minneapolis a “safe haven” for illegal immigrants. He also assured illegal immigrants that, under the city’s so-called “separation ordinance,” Minneapolis police would not collect information on immigration status or arrest anyone for being in the country illegally. In other words: don’t worry, the city’s got you covered.
Frey’s swearing-in ceremony this week wasn’t exactly a victory lap. He was reportedly heckled over how police handled two domestic violence cases. And this kind of reception isn’t new for him. After the death of George Floyd, Frey was booed out of a protest after refusing to support far-left demands to defund the Minneapolis Police Department—a rare moment when he didn’t go far enough for his own side.
“Go home, Jacob, go home,” protesters shouted, along with chants of “Shame, shame, shame.” In another video from that period, Frey was pressed by protest leaders on whether he would support abolishing or defunding the police. He responded by saying he was “coming to grips” with his own “brokenness” and promised to overhaul what he called a “systemic racist system.”
In the end, Jacob Frey remains a clear example of today’s Democratic leadership at the local level—loudly opposing federal enforcement, sending mixed signals on public safety, and trying to appease every activist crowd at once. The upside? The contrast couldn’t be clearer. For Americans who value law, order, and accountability, moments like these only strengthen the case for leadership that actually puts citizens first—and that’s a conversation the country is more than ready to keep having.
