Minneapolis Mayor Calls for Peace Amid ICE Tensions

In a shift from his earlier, more aggressive statements, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for peace in the wake of local unrest. Just last week, he had a heated exchange with ICE agents, urging them to “get rid of the shit.” Now, he is advocating for calm after a recent incident where an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant was shot in the leg following an alleged ambush on an officer with a shovel.

“I want peace,” Frey stated at a late Wednesday press conference shortly after the shooting. He emphasized that everyone has a role in maintaining peace, pledging to do everything possible to foster that environment.

Even as he softened his words, Frey condemned recent ICE actions in the city as “disgusting” and “intolerable.” He cautioned protesters against taking what he described as Trump’s bait to incite chaos in the streets.

“We’re in a situation right now where residents are asking for a very limited number of police officers to confront ICE agents on the streets,” he said.

Frey argued that it’s unacceptable for two government agencies to be in conflict. “If it were your city, it wouldn’t be acceptable there either,” he added.

He advised those engaging in disorderly conduct to cease, stating, “You’re not helping the illegal immigrants in our city. You’re not helping the people who call this home.”

This call for tranquility starkly contrasts with his previous remarks last week following the shooting of local mother Renee Good by federal agents, where Frey vehemently stated, “ICE, get the fk out of Minneapolis. We don’t want you here.” He claimed that instead of providing security, their presence has only exacerbated tensions.

His recent comments followed reports from the Department of Homeland Security that federal agents fired upon an immigrant who allegedly attempted to evade a traffic stop and attacked an officer.

Meanwhile, President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to restore order if local lawmakers did not act to suppress the unrest.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared, “If Minnesota’s corrupt politicians don’t abide by the law and stop professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking ICE patriots just trying to do their jobs, I will act.”

Frey has consistently focused blame on the approximately 3,000 federal agents present in the city for the ongoing turmoil. He stated, “Tonight, a man was shot in the leg by an ICE officer on the North Side. Whatever the circumstances, the situation we are seeing in our city is not sustainable.”

He noted the disparity between the local police force and federal presence: “While we have 600 Metropolitan Police Department officers working to keep our streets safe, they are sending in 3,000 federal agents. America, this is not the path we should take.”

In a similar vein, outgoing Governor Tim Walz called for Trump to “lower the temperature” in response to the escalating tensions.

“I appeal directly to the President: Let’s lower the temperature. Stop this campaign of retaliation. This is not us,” he stated. He urged Minnesotans to speak out urgently but peacefully, emphasizing that they must avoid fanning the flames of discord.