Additional Coverage:
- Mayor says Minneapolis is ‘under siege’ by ICE as Pentagon has 1,500 troops on standby (themirror.com)
Minneapolis Mayor Frey Decries “Invasion” as Federal Troops Eyed for Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN – Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has voiced strong condemnation, describing his city as being “invaded” by ICE officers following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good. His remarks come as the Department of Homeland Security reportedly considers deploying up to 1,500 troops to the Twin Cities area.
During an interview, Mayor Frey, a Democrat, stated that Minneapolis is “under siege” by ICE agents. “I never thought in a million years that we would be invaded by our own federal government,” Frey said, highlighting the presence of “3,000 or so ICE agents and Border Patrol” and the potential for an additional 1,500 military personnel.
He concluded, “This is ridiculous. But we will not be intimidated by the actions of this federal government.”
The Mayor’s comments follow reports from The Washington Post indicating that the Pentagon is preparing to send active-duty soldiers if violence in Minnesota escalates, a move described by unnamed officials as “prudent planning.” It remains unconfirmed whether these soldiers will ultimately be deployed. The Department of Defense has not yet commented, while the White House stated it is customary for the Pentagon “to be prepared for any decision the President may or may not make.”
Earlier in the week, President Trump had threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to quell unrest, but later indicated he didn’t “think I need it right now.” The Insurrection Act, a rarely used measure for extreme circumstances like civil disorder or armed rebellion, would allow the president to deploy the military domestically for arrests and searches, actions typically prohibited for troops on U.S. soil.
The current unrest in Minnesota began after the January 7th killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother and poet. Footage of the incident shows Good pulling away from ICE officers, after which agent Jonathan Ross shot her multiple times as she drove away. The incident and the administration’s defense of Ross have sparked widespread outrage, leading to protests against the federal agency’s actions.
Mayor Frey has been a vocal critic of the federal government’s response and its unwillingness to investigate Agent Ross. He previously criticized the administration’s ICE operations, calling the situation “not sustainable.”
“We’re in a position right now where we have residents that are asking the very limited number of police officers that we have to fight ICE agents on the street,” Frey explained. “We cannot be at a place right now in America where we have two governmental entities that are literally fighting one another.”
The Mayor’s stance has reportedly made him a target of the Justice Department, with officials reportedly investigating Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for allegedly impeding federal immigration enforcement through public statements. Both Walz and Frey have dismissed the investigation as a “bullying tactic,” focusing on a potential violation of a conspiracy statute.
Governor Walz stated, “Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic.” Mayor Frey echoed this sentiment, describing the investigation as an attempt to intimidate him for “standing up for Minneapolis, our local law enforcement, and our residents against the chaos and danger this Administration has brought to our streets.”