Jacob Frey asks mayors to rise against Trump's ICE ‘invasion’, warns their city could be next
WASHINGTON, DC: Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey on Thursday, January 29, slammed the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdown, calling it an “invasion” by the Donald Trump administration.
Frey was addressing the US conference of mayors in Washington, DC, when he blamed the federal government for pursuing a “might makes right” philosophy.
He warned city leaders that their city could be next if they don't stand up now.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to the U.S. Conference of Mayors in DC: "I didn't take this job to get into the business of defending democracy. I did because being a mayor has always been my dream job...We got to hold rock solid. We cannot back down. Our cities, our mayors are what… https://t.co/Gr4nmOK4ET
— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) January 29, 2026
Jacob Frey calls ICE crackdown an 'invasion'
Frey said, “We recognize that one, one great American city is experiencing an invasion. That is an invasion of our democracy, on our republic, and on each and every one of us. And the fact that you all are standing up means the world.”
He also went on to say that he did not become mayor “to get into the business of defending democracy. I did it because being a mayor has always been my dream job.”
“[But] we are on the front lines of a very important battle, and it’s important that we aren’t silenced. This is not a time to bend our heads in despair or out of fear that we may be next, because if we do not speak up, if we do not step out, it will be your city that is next,” Frey added.
Continuing further, the politician noted that before the crackdown, Minneapolis was safe with the number of criminal cases falling down. But the deployment of thousands of federal agents have made the city dangerous as “chaos reigns supreme”.
“It is less safe when families do not feel comfortable going to school or buying food at the grocery store because they’re worried that their very family might get ripped apart,” he told the audience.
The 44-year-old also argued that “roving bands of agents marching down the street” is making everyone concerned about their safety.
Frey alleges discrimination in the name of immigration enforcement
Frey, who spoke days after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti on January 24, alleged that the federal agents were targeting people based on their ethnicity before he attacked Homeland Security Advisor, Stephen Miller, for promoting “might is right” philosophy.
He stated, “People have been indiscriminately pulled off the street. Discrimination takes place only on the basis of are you Somali, are you Latino or are you Southeast Asian. American citizens have been yanked away from their homes … solely because they looked like they were from Mexico or Ecuador or Somalia.”
Frey also asserted that “Stephen Miller has pushed for this concept, calling it the iron law of the world that might makes right. Stephen Miller is wrong. Time and again, America has rejected this notion that might makes right.”
During his speech, the attorney mentioned a probe against him while calling out the administration for using the Department of Justice "as a weapon”.
“They're investigating me and several other local elected officials, not because we've done something wrong, but because we have exhibited one of the core responsibilities that [we] have as mayors, and that is the core and foundational responsibility to speak on behalf of your constituents,” Frey said.
