Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey sharply criticized the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in his city on January 15, 2026, warning that the presence of thousands of federal agents alongside local police has created an untenable situation that risks direct conflict between different levels of government. Frey made his remarks at a press conference following violent protests triggered by a second shooting involving ICE agents in Minneapolis, part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement surge.

Frey described the situation as “an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in,” noting that Minneapolis has approximately 600 police officers while some 3,000 federal immigration agents — including ICE and Border Patrol officers — are operating in the city and throughout Minnesota. He said the imbalance of forces has strained local resources and intensified tensions across neighborhoods. 

“We cannot be at a place right now in America where we have two governmental entities that are literally fighting one another,” Frey said, asserting that the current enforcement posture has not produced greater safety but instead “creating chaos.” He urged residents and protesters not to escalate the situation further, calling for calm even as demonstrations were reported to include clashes with federal officers, projectiles hurled at law enforcement, and tear gas deployed in some areas. 

The remarks came one week after a fatal shooting involving an ICE agent on January 7, when a 37‑year‑old woman, Renée Nicole Good, was killed during an immigration operation, a case that drew widespread condemnation from city officials who challenged the federal account of self‑defense. A second encounter on January 14 saw an ICE agent shoot and wound a Venezuelan man in the leg during a traffic stop and alleged struggle, further inflaming local leaders and community members. 

Frey and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara appealed for protesters to maintain peace, emphasizing that unlawful acts would undermine efforts to keep communities safe. Frey also drew attention to ongoing lawsuits filed by Minnesota officials to halt the federal immigration enforcement surge, arguing that the deployment of armed agents has disrupted daily life, created fear among residents, and heightened risks of confrontation between federal forces and ordinary citizens. 

The situation reflects broader national tensions over immigration policy and enforcement strategy under the Trump administration, with local officials pushing back against federal operations they view as overreach. As Minneapolis continues to grapple with the ramifications of the ICE operation, Frey’s comments underline the deep divisions over how best to balance enforcement with community stability and public safety.