Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has issued a characteristically direct response to critics who took issue with his profane dismissal of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from his city last week. The controversy stems from a press conference where Frey told ICE to "get the fuck out of Minneapolis" following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent.
A Blunt Message on National Television
Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, January 11, 2026, Frey was questioned by moderator Kristen Welker about his responsibility to calm tensions in Minneapolis. This comes amid ongoing protests across the country triggered by the shooting. Frey affirmed his role in de-escalation but emphasized that protests in his city, including a march of roughly 10,000 people, have remained peaceful expressions of First Amendment rights.
When addressing those offended by his explicit language, Frey did not mince words. "I'm sorry I offended their delicate ears," he stated. He argued that the truly inflammatory element was the killing of Renee Good by ICE, not his use of a swear word. "I'm sure we've all heard [the word] before," Frey added, redirecting the focus to the agency's conduct.
Clarifying Stance on ICE and Constitutional Concerns
Pressed on past comments calling ICE "unconstitutional" and whether he supports abolishing the agency, Frey provided a nuanced clarification. "Well, first off, I did not say that ICE enforcement was unconstitutional. What I said is the way that they are doing it is unconstitutional," he explained to Welker.
Frey criticized ICE for what he described as discriminatory practices based on ethnicity, citing instances of "pregnant women dragged through the street" and American citizen teenagers being picked up. He drew a distinction between abolishing an entire entity and reforming its methods. "Do I think that we should just abolish the entire entity that does immigration enforcement? No. But the way it is being utilized doesn't make sense," Frey said.
He compared the situation to other federal departments, stating, "I'm not asking for the DOJ to be abolished. I'm not asking for the Office of Management and Budget to be abolished." His central accusation was clear: "I am saying that the way that these institutions are being utilized right now by the Trump administration is wrong, and to be clear, is unconstitutional."
Background: The Shooting and Frey's Initial Condemnation
The mayor's fiery comments on national television follow his even more heated remarks at a January 7 news conference. At that event, Frey blasted ICE for attempting to frame Good's shooting as "an action of self-defense." Having viewed the video evidence, Frey was unequivocal: "That is bullshit. This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying."
He accused ICE agents of operating in bad faith within Minneapolis. "What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust," Frey asserted. "They're ripping families apart, they're sowing chaos on our streets, and in this case, quite literally killing people." He argued that their presence was not about enhancing safety for the city or the nation, but rather about instilling fear and disorder.
The incident and Frey's forceful response have ignited a national debate over ICE's tactics and accountability, placing the Minneapolis mayor at the centre of a heated discussion on immigration enforcement and municipal authority.
