Trump Warns Minneapolis Mayor Frey Over Immigration Enforcement Policy/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump warned Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for refusing to enforce federal immigration laws, calling it a “serious violation.” Frey defended the city’s stance, saying local police should prioritize public safety over immigration enforcement. The exchange follows rising tensions after federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis this month.
Quick Look:
- Trump warns Mayor Frey after Minneapolis reiterates it won’t enforce federal immigration laws.
- Frey defends city policy, saying local police should focus on community safety.
- Tensions remain high after fatal shootings tied to Trump administration’s immigration raids.
Trump Warns Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey Over Immigration Enforcement Policy
President calls mayor’s stance a “serious violation” as tensions escalate over federal immigration crackdown
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 28, 2026 — President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning Wednesday to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, claiming the city’s refusal to enforce federal immigration law amounts to “playing with fire.”
In a morning post on Truth Social, Trump reacted strongly to recent comments from Frey, who said the city will not participate in immigration enforcement led by federal authorities.
“Surprisingly, Mayor Jacob Frey just stated that, ‘Minneapolis does not, and will not, enforce Federal Immigration Laws.’ This is after having had a very good conversation with him,” Trump wrote.
“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!” he added.
Frey Pushes Back
Mayor Frey quickly responded on X (formerly Twitter), defending his stance and saying local police should focus on protecting residents — not carrying out immigration enforcement.
“The job of our police is to keep people safe, not enforce fed immigration laws,” Frey posted. “I want them preventing homicides, not hunting down a working dad who contributes to MPLS & is from Ecuador. It’s similar to the policy your guy Rudy had in NYC. Everyone should feel safe calling 911.”
The exchange comes amid growing unrest in Minneapolis over the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement initiative, Operation Metro Surge — which has included federal raids and two recent fatal shootings by immigration agents.
Tensions After Deadly Immigration Raids
The latest controversy follows the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two U.S. citizens fatally shot by federal authorities in Minneapolis earlier this month. The incidents have sparked protests and widespread criticism from community members and local officials.
Mayor Frey had met Tuesday with Trump’s Border Czar, Tom Homan, in an attempt to address mounting concerns.
“Today, Chief O’Hara and I met with Border Czar Homan and had a productive conversation,” Frey wrote in a post on Tuesday. “I reiterated that my main ask is for Operation Metro Surge to end as quickly as possible. Public safety works best when it’s built on community trust, not tactics that create fear or division.”
Frey also said he made it “clear that Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws,” reaffirming the city’s policy of limiting local cooperation with ICE and other federal agencies.
Homan, Trump’s Border Advisor, Meets Minnesota Officials
Homan, a key figure in the administration’s immigration strategy, has defended the federal operation, calling it necessary to reduce illegal immigration and detain individuals with outstanding deportation orders.
He has met with Minnesota officials in recent days, seeking to smooth over rising tensions as public backlash increases.
Political and Legal Fallout
Trump’s warning to Mayor Frey underscores the growing clash between federal immigration policy and city-level resistance in jurisdictions known as “sanctuary cities.” The president and his allies have frequently targeted local governments that decline to assist with federal immigration enforcement.
Legal experts note that while cities can choose not to cooperate with ICE or participate in immigration raids, federal law prohibits actively obstructing federal operations.
The Biden-era policy of limited ICE cooperation has been largely reversed under Trump’s second term, which has been marked by high-profile crackdowns and legal challenges over the scope of executive power.
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