Mayor Jacob Frey demands ICE leave Minneapolis, rejects self‑defense claim in fatal shooting

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey unleashed a furious rebuke of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Wednesday, January 7, following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman during an encounter with federal agents.

He called the agency’s account of the incident “bulls**t” and demanded its officers leave the city.

The shooting occurred amid an expanded federal law enforcement presence in Minneapolis, a move that city leaders have increasingly criticized as destabilizing and dangerous.

Jacob Frey claims footage shows ICE was wrong 

Speaking at an afternoon press conference, Frey said that he had personally reviewed the footage and rejected the federal government’s version of events.

“We’ve dreaded this moment since the early stages of this ICE presence in Minneapolis,” Frey said. “They are not here to cause safety in this city. What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust.”

Addressing ICE’s claim of self-defense directly, the mayor added, “Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody, directly, that is bulls**t. This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying.”

Mayor asks ICE agents to get out of Minneapolis

Frey went further, issuing an extraordinary public demand that ICE withdraw from the city altogether.

“To ICE: Get the f**k out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here,” he said. “Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some kind of safety, and you are doing exactly the opposite.”

The mayor accused federal agents of ripping families apart, bothering long-time residents and destabilizing neighborhoods, culminating, he said, in the loss of life.

“Long-term Minneapolis residents who have contributed so greatly to our city, to our culture, to our economy are being t*****zed,” Frey said. “And now, somebody is dead. That’s on you.”

Frey said Minneapolis officials would move swiftly to seek accountability and prevent further violence, placing responsibility squarely on federal authorities.

“It’s on you to leave,” he said, addressing ICE. “It’s on you to make sure that further damage, further loss of life and injury is not done.”

“We’re going to be working toward justice as quickly as we possibly can,” Frey added. “Justice is what we’ve all got to get.”

ICE claims the woman was a violent rioter 

In a statement released after the shooting, ICE said that the woman was “one of these violent rioters” who had “weaponized her vehicle” by attempting to run over an agent.

The agency described the incident as an act of self-defense and labeled it “domestic t*******m.”

But the incident fueled outrage from city officials and community members.