Republicans are urging Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to reverse course and cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in its efforts to deport public safety threats.
Frey, a Democrat, announced at a press conference last month upon President Donald Trump’s return to office that his city’s police officers will “not be cooperating with federal law enforcement around federal immigration law.”
“As for cooperation with ICE, the answer’s no,” he said. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara also said the department’s internal policy clearly states that “MPD will not be involved in the enforcement of federal immigration law.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey: "As for cooperation with ICE, the answer's no." pic.twitter.com/9rlf1iDBzV
— Anthony Gockowski (@AntGockowski) January 28, 2025
In their letter, Minnesota’s Republican congressional delegation highlighted the public safety concerns posed by the mayor’s position.
“Just last year, ICE apprehended a known al-Shabaab terrorist in your city. This terrorist was an illegal immigrant who broke the law to enter our country during the Biden-Harris border crisis in March 2023. Last month, ICE arrested three illegal immigrants who are child sex predators in your neighbor city of Saint Paul. Your statements on January 28, 2025, threaten the ability of ICE to remove such dangerous criminals from our streets,” they wrote in a Feb. 12 letter to the mayor.
President Trump ran on a platform of “mass deportations” of illegal immigrants, a position that is supported by a majority of Americans, according to recent polling. His administration has said it will prioritize the deportation of public safety threats. For instance, just last week ICE’s St. Paul office arrested a South Sudanese national with a homicide conviction, according to the White House.
“Your city and your constituents deserve to be protected from such threats, and we urge you to prioritize their needs over those of criminals and terrorists,” the Republicans said. “It is time for you to put the safety of your constituents first.”
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
