In the wake of a fatal shooting involving federal immigration agents, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey forcefully denounced the presence and actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, placing direct blame on what he described as reckless use of power that ended a life.
According to city officials, the incident occurred during an ICE operation in Minneapolis when an agent discharged a firearm, killing an individual.
Details surrounding the shooting remain under investigation, but local leaders have made clear that the individual posed no imminent threat that would justify lethal force. The shooting sparked immediate outrage within the community, with residents gathering near the scene and across the city to demand answers, accountability, and an end to federal immigration enforcement operations they say endanger public safety.
“Get the f*** out of Minneapolis,” Frey said in an emotional address. “Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some kind of safety, and you are doing exactly the opposite. Somebody is dead. That’s on you.” The mayor characterized the incident as the result of an ICE agent acting recklessly, underscoring the growing tension between local leadership and federal enforcement tactics.
As protests spread throughout the city following the shooting, Frey extended condolences to the victim’s family, acknowledging the pain reverberating through the community. “To the family, I’m so deeply sorry,” he said. “We’re going to be working toward justice as quickly as we possibly can. Justice is what we’ve all got to get.”
While affirming the public’s right to protest, Frey urged residents to remain calm and focused amid the unrest. He cautioned against escalating conflict, warning that further violence or destruction would only deepen the tragedy. “People are going to want to exercise their First Amendment rights,” he said, “but please do so safely and lawfully so we do not have any further tragedy in this city.”
The mayor also suggested that the chaos unfolding in the streets is part of a broader provocation, saying the city should not “take the bait” he believes federal agents are attempting to create.
Instead, Frey called for unity rooted in Minneapolis’ core values. “We can show them the kind of courage, bravery, love, and compassion that makes Minneapolis, Minneapolis,” he said, urging residents to come together around “hope and love and peace and getting justice.”
