Minneapolis (Parliament Politics Magazine) January 14, 2026 – Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has directly addressed criticism from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials following a series of protests targeting federal immigration policies. Demonstrators have gathered in downtown Minneapolis for three consecutive days, calling for an end to deportations. Frey emphasised the city’s commitment to sanctuary policies while clarifying local cooperation limits with federal agents.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey issued a measured response to sharp criticism from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid escalating protests in the city centre. The demonstrations, now entering their fourth day, stem from recent ICE operations that resulted in the detention of 12 individuals in Hennepin County. Frey reiterated Minneapolis’s status as a sanctuary city, stating that local resources would not support federal enforcement actions.
The mayor’s comments came during a press conference outside City Hall on Tuesday afternoon, where he fielded questions from reporters on the balance between public safety and immigrant rights. Protesters, numbering around 500 on Monday evening, blocked Hennepin Avenue, leading to minor clashes with police who used non-lethal crowd control measures.
Frey Defends Sanctuary City Stance Against ICE Directives
Mayor Frey outlined the city’s long-standing sanctuary policies, first adopted in 2016, which prohibit Minneapolis police from inquiring about immigration status during routine interactions.
“Our officers are here to protect all residents, regardless of status,”
Frey said, as reported by Jennifer Brooks of the Star Tribune. He added that the city complies with federal detainer requests only when accompanied by judicial warrants, a practice upheld since a 2017 municipal ordinance.
ICE Midwest Regional Director Thomas Homan criticised Frey’s position in a statement released Monday, accusing Minneapolis leaders of harbouring “dangerous criminals” by limiting cooperation. Homan, speaking to Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin, claimed that 8 of the 12 detainees had prior convictions for offences including drug trafficking and assault. Frey countered this during the press conference, noting that local records showed only three had violent histories, with the remainder facing misdemeanours.
As reported by Mary Lynn Smith of Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), Frey highlighted a 2025 federal court ruling in California that limited ICE detainer enforceability without warrants, influencing Minneapolis’s approach. The mayor pledged to review each request individually but maintained that blanket compliance endangered community trust.
Public reaction on social media has intensified scrutiny of Frey’s stance. Paul A. Szypula highlighted the mayor’s concerns in an X post,
“Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says he’s worried his constituents and ICE agents will start getting k*lled if ICE keeps doing their job of deporting illegals.”
“Were not gonna take it anymore ICE on the move
Look in the mirror, Mayor Jacob Frey—your reckless rants and ‘bullshit’ narrative turned a tense moment into city-wide mayhem. You caused this storm, not ICE. Pure irresponsibility. pic.twitter.com/bpFogm24pQ
— Mischief 🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿 (@gracieback2) January 13, 2026
Protests Escalate with Key Demands from Demonstrators
The protests began on Friday following announcements of heightened ICE activity in the Upper Midwest, part of a broader operation dubbed “Community Shield 2026.” Organisers from the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) led chants of “No human is illegal” as they marched from the Basilica of St. Mary to the federal courthouse. Police estimated peak attendance at 700 on Saturday, with no arrests reported until Sunday’s dispersal.
MIRAC spokesperson Amina Hassan told reporters,
“These raids tear families apart without due process,”
according to coverage by Jeff Day of the Associated Press. Demonstrators carried signs reading “Frey: Stand with Us” and distributed flyers citing a 15% rise in Minnesota’s undocumented population since 2023, per U.S. Census estimates. The group demanded Frey issue an executive order barring any local assistance to ICE, a step the mayor declined, citing legal constraints.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara reported 15 citations for unlawful assembly but praised the crowd’s largely peaceful conduct. Temporary road closures affected downtown traffic, with Metro Transit rerouting buses until Wednesday morning.
Background on ICE Operations in Minnesota
ICE’s regional push follows President Donald Trump’s January 2025 executive order expanding interior enforcement, targeting over 1 million priority cases nationwide. In Minnesota, operations since December 2025 have yielded 45 detentions, focusing on public safety threats, as stated in an ICE press release covered by Reuters journalist Aidan Lewis. Critics, including the ACLU of Minnesota, argue the sweeps ensnare non-criminal residents through workplace raids at construction sites and meatpacking plants.
Frey referenced a 2024 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, which found 65% of ICE detentions involved individuals without criminal convictions, bolstering his resistance. The mayor noted Minneapolis’s $2.5 million allocation for immigrant legal aid in the 2026 budget, up from $1.8 million last year. This funding supports representation for those facing removal proceedings.
Criticism of Frey has also surfaced online amid the unrest. Mischief 🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿 said in X post,
“Were not gonna take it anymore ICE on the move Look in the mirror, Mayor Jacob Frey—your reckless rants and ‘bullshit’ narrative turned a tense moment into city-wide mayhem. You caused this storm, not ICE. Pure irresponsibility.”
“Were not gonna take it anymore ICE on the move
Look in the mirror, Mayor Jacob Frey—your reckless rants and ‘bullshit’ narrative turned a tense moment into city-wide mayhem. You caused this storm, not ICE. Pure irresponsibility. pic.twitter.com/bpFogm24pQ
— Mischief 🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿 (@gracieback2) January 13, 2026
State Senator Alice Hausman, a Democrat, voiced support for Frey in a statement to the Pioneer Press’s Jessica Fleming, calling for legislative protections against federal overreach. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty echoed this, confirming her office would not prosecute immigration-related offences.
Community Leaders Weigh In on Tensions
Faith leaders from the Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Justice held a vigil Monday night, drawing 200 participants. Reverend Paul Slack of Westminster Presbyterian Church prayed for de-escalation, as noted by WCCO-TV reporter Reg Chapman. Local businesses along Nicollet Mall reported a 20% dip in foot traffic due to the unrest, per Chamber of Commerce data cited in the Wall Street Journal by reporter Ted Mellnik.
Frey met privately with MIRAC representatives post-press conference, emerging to say progress was made on dialogue channels.
“We disagree on methods but share goals of safety and humanity,”
he told CNN affiliate KARE-11’s Jeff Wagner. ICE has not scheduled further operations in Minneapolis but warned of continued nationwide efforts.
Historical Context of Minneapolis-ICE Frictions
Tensions trace back to 2017, when Frey, then a councillor, voted for sanctuary status amid Trump’s first term. A 2019 ICE audit faulted Minneapolis for 150 non-compliance instances, prompting Frey to refine protocols. Protests peaked in 2020 during George Floyd unrest, overlapping with immigration rallies.
Recent polls by the Star Tribune show 58% of Minneapolis residents back sanctuary policies, with 42% favouring fuller ICE cooperation. Frey’s approval on immigration stands at 52%, per the January 2026 survey. The city council plans a special session Friday to debate a non-binding resolution reaffirming sanctuary commitments.
City attorneys are monitoring a pending U.S. Supreme Court case on detainer validity, expected for argument in February 2026. Frey concluded his remarks by urging peaceful protest, stating, “Minneapolis thrives on unity, not division.”