Monday, January 19, 2026- Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has sharply criticized the massive federal law enforcement presence in his city, describing the deployment of thousands of agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection as an “occupying force that has quite literally invaded our city.”
Speaking on national television, Frey highlighted that around 3,000 federal agents are now in Minneapolis vastly outnumbering the local police force and questioned whether their presence is actually contributing to public safety. He argued that if safety were the true goal, removing the federal agents would be a better way to reduce violence and tension.
Frey’s comments come amid escalating unrest following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent earlier this month, which has sparked widespread protests and intensified scrutiny of federal tactics.
In addition to the thousands of law enforcement officers already on the ground, reports indicate roughly 1,500 active‑duty military personnel are on standby for potential deployment to Minnesota, heightening concerns among local leaders about the scale of federal intervention.
Frey has stressed that peaceful protests are protected by the First Amendment and criticized suggestions that demonstrations be confined to specific “safe zones,” saying constitutional rights should not be limited to isolated areas.
The mayor’s vocal opposition underscores deep tensions between Minneapolis officials and the federal government over how to handle immigration enforcement and civil unrest. Frey has framed the federal operation not only as unnecessary but as counterproductive, arguing that it fuels fear and undermines trust within immigrant and broader communities.
His stance reflects broader concerns among local and state leaders about balancing law enforcement objectives with civil liberties and community safety in the midst of one of the nation’s most intense protest environments.
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