Minneapolis Mayor Frey asks ICE to leave city after mass shooting
Mayor Jacob Frey held a press conference after ICE agents shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis.
In an impassioned speech Wednesday afternoon, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents patrolling the area, telling them to “get the f*** out of Minneapolis.”
The message was released at a press conference following the shooting death of a 37-year-old woman by ICE agents in the city on January 7th. Authorities have offered conflicting accounts of the shooting, which occurred in a residential neighborhood outside downtown Minneapolis, less than a mile from where George Floyd was killed in 2020.
The presence of personnel in the city has been increased, with the federal government describing it as the “largest immigration operation in history.”
‘We don’t want you here’: Minneapolis mayor addresses ICE
In his speech, Frey told the community there was little they could say to improve the situation, but they could speak directly to federal authorities.
“To ICE: Get them out of Minneapolis,” Frey said. “We don’t want you here. You say the reason you’re in this city is to create some kind of security, but you’re doing the opposite.”
Frey added that it was the responsibility of authorities to leave the city to prevent further damage, loss and injury.
“People are being hurt. Families are being torn apart, long-time residents of Minneapolis who have contributed so much to the city, culture and economy of Minneapolis are being terrorized, and now someone is dead,” Frey told ICE. “That’s your responsibility.”
Early morning shooting sparks conflicting claims
Some details about the shooting, including the woman’s identity, have not been released. Both the FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigation are investigating the shooting.
The Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday that its agents “fired defensively” after a woman allegedly tried to ram officers with her car. President Donald Trump echoed that sentiment in a post on Truth Social after the press conference, in which he called the woman a “professional agitator” who “violently ran over an ICE officer.”
Frey disputed those claims at a news conference, saying the video shows the woman running away from federal agents, not toward them.
“They’re already trying to interpret this as an act of self-defense,” Frey said. “I saw the video myself, and I want to say it directly to you: That’s a bull.”
Frey urges people to be their ‘best selves’
In response to his comments on ICE, Frey urged residents not to “take the bait that ICE agents are trying to create.” He added that it was acceptable for residents to feel angry about the situation, but warned them to come to the scene and respond peacefully.
“Respond now with the best version of yourself. This is a moment where all of us in Minneapolis and beyond can rise to the occasion,” Frey said. “We can show them who we are. We can show them the kind of courage, bravery, love and compassion that makes Minneapolis what makes Minneapolis and what makes America America.”
ICE has a growing presence in major cities across the United States, including Portland, Charlotte, and Chicago. In September 2025, a man died after being shot by ICE in Chicago.
“We are better than sending a bunch of ICE agents to cities across the country and tearing families and communities apart,” Frey said. “We’re better than that, so we’re going to meet that hatred with love. We’re going to meet that despair with hope. We’re going to meet that injustice with constitutional justice.”
Contributor: Christopher Cann, USA TODAY
Kate Perez covers national trends and breaking news for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kperez@usatodayco.com or on Twitter @katecperez_.
