Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey will travel to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29, to meet with other mayors from around the nation, as well as U.S. senators, to push for an end to the federal immigration crackdown that has rocked his city and left two citizens dead.
Frey said he will attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors, where he will push for an end to “unlawful ICE operations” and Operation Metro Surge, which federal immigration officials began in December, sending thousands of federal officers to Minnesota and arresting thousands of people.
Frey will talk about ending the Trump administration’s aggressive tactics and using ones that build trust and improve safety, as well as how cities can work together to keep communities safe while upholding the rule of law, according to a news release from his office.
Frey is expected to emphasize the importance of local leadership, transparency and accountability in public safety.
“Minneapolis may be where we’ve seen one of the largest ICE deployments in the country, but it will not be the last if we fail to act,” Frey said in the release.
The mayor will also meet with federal lawmakers — including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — to discuss the impact ICE operations have had on Minneapolis as the U.S. Senate debates the budget for the Department of Homeland Security.
After weeks of violent confrontations between residents and federal immigration and border patrol agents culminated in three shootings, two fatal, President Donald Trump signaled a willingness to ease up in conversations with Frey and Gov. Tim Walz. Border czar Tom Homan met with Frey this week, and Frey has said he pushed to end the federal surge.
Frey will return to Minneapolis Thursday evening, his spokesperson said.
