President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned that Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is walking on thin ice for refusing to enforce federal immigration laws.
Recounting his conversation with White House border czar Tom Homan on Tuesday, Frey said, “Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws.”
Trump took aim at the Democratic mayor over the statement despite having had a “very good conversation with him” this week.
“Could somebody in his inner sanctum please explain that this statement is a very serious violation of the Law, and that he is PLAYING WITH FIRE!” the president posted on Truth Social Wednesday morning.
Frey fired back at the president in a post on X.
“The job of our police is to keep people safe, not enforce fed immigration laws,” he said. “I want them preventing homicides, not hunting down a working dad who contributes to MPLS & is from Ecuador.”
He added, “It’s similar to the policy your guy [former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani] had in NYC. Everyone should feel safe calling 911.”
Vice President JD Vance responded in a post, “How about federal law enforcement. Should they feel safe calling 911? Right now, they don’t, because you’ve told your police officers not to help them.”
A White House-affiliated X account also responded to Frey, saying, “No one is asking you to ‘enforce fed immigration laws,’ @MayorFrey. We’re just asking you to honor ICE detainers and let them know when criminal illegals are in your jail so they can safely pick them up and deport them. That’s it. It’s safer for EVERYONE, but you refuse.”
The account shared an example of an illegal immigrant in Minneapolis who killed a mother and injured others in back-to-back drunk driving crashes. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer on the man, but he was released after the city refused to honor it. However, ICE tracked the man down and deported him.
“All ICE was asking was that officials notify them when he was released so they could arrest him in the safety of the jail rather than expend significant resources to locate and arrest him in public — something that jeopardizes both the officers’ safety and the safety of the public,” the account, @RapidResponse47, said. “Instead, Minneapolis officials did everything in their power to keep the criminal illegal alien roaming the streets of their city.”
Trump dispatched Homan to Minnesota on Monday to speak with Frey and Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) about the out-of-control situation in the state between local protesters and federal immigration enforcement.
A day later, Homan said the meeting with state officials was “productive.”
“We all agree that we need to support our law enforcement officers and get criminals off the streets,” he wrote. “While we don’t agree on everything, these meetings were a productive starting point and I look forward to more conversations with key stakeholders in the days ahead. President Trump has been clear: he wants American cities to be safe and secure for law-abiding residents — and they will be.”
His statement contrasts with Frey’s undermining response. The mayor said Minneapolis leaders will remain in contact with Homan and his team, but the city’s government appears intent on keeping its sanctuary policies. Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the country, a community that has recently come under fire after the discovery of a massive fraud ring that stole taxpayer dollars.
Homan is set to report back to the White House after spending time in Minnesota.
Tensions between federal and state officials are growing more heated in the wake of Alex Pretti’s death, after two Border Patrol agents shot him on Saturday. Over two weeks prior, Renee Good died after an immigration officer shot her as she reportedly struck him with her SUV.
HOMAN HAILS ‘PRODUCTIVE’ MEETING WITH TIM WALZ AND JACOB FREY AFTER ALEX PRETTI SHOOTING
The Trump administration is currently reviewing the latest shooting as federal officials try to de-escalate the vitriolic situation in Minnesota.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem is facing resignation calls from many Democrats and some Republicans over the two high-profile shootings precipitated by the state’s massive immigration enforcement operation. Impeachment was floated by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) as an alternative possibility.
