Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey Discusses Immigration Policies on CNN
In a recent CNN interview, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey sidestepped questions about his opposition to federal immigration measures once enacted by President Obama and now supported by President Trump.
Appearing on “The Arena with Casey Hunt,” the mayor addressed the recent decision by the Trump administration to withdraw 700 federal agents from Minneapolis, following two incidents of mass shootings involving federal agents that occurred last month. Frey criticized what he termed “coercion” from the Trump administration in relation to immigration enforcement. However, Hunt noted that many conservative policies had been previously implemented during the Obama era.
Hunt remarked, “I understand your point about voting rolls, but under Obama, ICE officers even set up offices in Hennepin County Jail to communicate with immigrants.” She continued by questioning the appropriateness of prisons targeting ICE detainees after they have served their time for prior crimes.
Frey acknowledged the complexity of the situation, responding, “You’re asking great questions. I don’t claim to be an expert on prison operations, but that isn’t really within our jurisdiction.”
He further emphasized that there are legal channels available for federal intervention, such as pursuing federal warrants that can be integrated with existing state warrants. “There are ways to navigate this legally,” he explained, while also noting the challenges surrounding post-bail detentions.
Meanwhile, President Trump, in an NBC News interview, expressed reluctance about withdrawing police from states he described as “blue,” though he raised concerns regarding the release of undocumented immigrants.
Trump suggested that a balanced approach might be needed, saying, “Perhaps we can be a bit softer, but we still have to remain tough. We’re dealing with some really violent criminals.” He mentioned having constructive conversations with state leadership, suggesting ongoing tensions at the local level.
