Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for calm Wednesday night amid escalating protests in the city, marking a shift in tone after he publicly demanded that Immigration and Customs Enforcement leave Minneapolis just days earlier, as reported by Fox News.
Frey appeared at a late-night news conference following a shooting involving a federal immigration agent and an illegal immigrant from Venezuela.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the agent opened fire after the individual allegedly fled a traffic stop and then ambushed the agent with a snow shovel. The suspect was shot in the leg.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for “peace” Wednesday amid escalating protests — days after telling ICE to “get the f— out” of the city following a fatal shooting involving a federal agent.https://t.co/GzuN7mf496
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 15, 2026
“I’m calling for peace,” Frey told reporters. “Everybody has a role in achieving that peace, and we’re going to try and do everything we can to keep it.”
The mayor acknowledged growing unrest in the city following ongoing federal immigration enforcement operations. While calling for calm, Frey again criticized ICE and repeated his opposition to the agency’s presence in Minneapolis.
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“There’s still a lot that we don’t know at this time, but what I can tell you for certain is that this is not sustainable,” Frey said. “This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in.”
Frey said residents are increasingly demanding action from local police officers amid confrontations between protesters and federal agents.
“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,” he said.
“We cannot be at a place right now in America where we have two governmental entities that are literally fighting one another.”
The mayor accused ICE and U.S. Border Patrol agents of escalating tensions in the city, even as protesters have at times confronted federal agents violently.
“I’ve seen conduct by ICE that is disgusting and intolerable,” Frey said.
At the same time, Frey urged demonstrators to refrain from violence and property damage, telling them not to “take the bait” from President Donald Trump.
“And for anyone that is taking the bait tonight, stop,” Frey said.
“That is not helpful. … You are not helping the undocumented immigrants in our city. You are not helping the people that call this place home.”
Frey: “We’re in a position right now where we have residents that are asking the very limited number of police officers to fight ICE agents on the street, to stand by their neighbors.”
Why would you listen to those people? pic.twitter.com/cXWwYdxtC6
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 15, 2026
The remarks contrasted sharply with statements Frey made last week following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent. At that time, the mayor used explicit language to demand that federal agents leave the city.
“To ICE, get the f— out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here,” Frey said during a press conference after that shooting.
“Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some kind of safety, and you are doing exactly the opposite.”
Americans to Mayor Frey: get the fuck out of our country you anti-American communist piece of shit https://t.co/ZNWBz3oyum
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) January 7, 2026
On Wednesday, Frey denied that his rhetoric has contributed to violence.
“Show a single place where I have encouraged anything other than peace,” he said. “Show me a single place where we have encouraged violence.”
Frey’s “get the fuck out” rant was a middle finger to ICE, but he’s now playing the innocent, claiming he never encouraged violence—just peace.
— IredcapI (@IredcapI) January 15, 2026
As tensions continued, President Trump issued a warning Thursday, saying he would consider invoking the Insurrection Act if Minnesota officials failed to restore order.
“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of ICE, who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
TRUMP: If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the patriots of ICE, who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many presidents have done before me,… pic.twitter.com/A70xV45IUg
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 15, 2026
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz responded by urging Trump to “turn the temperature down.”
Tim Walz last week: “We are at war with the federal government.”
Tim Walz today: “Let’s turn down the temperature.”pic.twitter.com/UrZZBc55vN https://t.co/yNHOpORdYf
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 15, 2026
ICE also responded publicly, posting a message directed at the governor.
“The buck stops with you, Governor,” the post read. “Tone down the hostile, inflammatory anti-ICE rhetoric. Honor our immigration detainers. And work with ICE to remove criminal illegal aliens from MN streets.”
The buck stops with you, Governor.
Tone down the hostile, inflammatory anti-ICE rhetoric.
Honor our immigration detainers.
And work with ICE to remove criminal illegal aliens from MN streets. https://t.co/5q22ABW8I1
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) January 15, 2026
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