“Get the **** out of Minnapolis… We do not want you here!”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey clashes with ICE agents during press conference
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey clashes with ICE agents during press conference
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A tense scene unfolded Wednesday afternoon after Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey erupted at federal immigration agents during a press conference addressing the recent downtown shooting that left three people dead and several wounded.
According to a video circulating on social media and later verified by CNN, Frey abruptly confronted a group of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who appeared at the public event. The mayor, visibly frustrated, told them to “get the ‘fuck’ out of here,” sparking stunned reactions from reporters and city officials standing nearby.
The outburst came as federal and local authorities offered differing accounts of the suspect’s immigration status. ICE officials claimed they were cooperating with local law enforcement in the investigation, while Frey’s office accused the agency of “showboating” and attempting to politicize the tragedy.
“Minneapolis does not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement on civil detainers,” Frey’s spokesperson said in a statement later that day. “The mayor’s reaction reflected deep frustration over the intrusion of federal agents during a city-led briefing intended to calm a shaken community.
”ICE’s regional office in St. Paul released its own statement, condemning Frey’s remarks as “unprofessional and dangerous.” The agency said its officers had attended the press event to “ensure transparency regarding potential federal interest” in the case.
The confrontation underscores long-standing tensions between Minneapolis leadership and federal immigration authorities, particularly over the city’s status as a “sanctuary” jurisdiction. Frey, who has frequently sparred with federal officials over immigration enforcement, has previously said ICE’s presence “undermines local trust and endangers public safety.
”Video of the exchange has since gone viral, drawing both praise and criticism across political lines.
