President Trump announced late Monday that he had what he described as a “very good” phone conversation with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and just like that, the political temperature in Minnesota shifted, at least a little. After more than a week of protests, street chaos, and nonstop Democrat finger-pointing over federal immigration enforcement, the White House and Minneapolis City Hall are suddenly talking instead of shouting past each other.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said progress was being made and confirmed that Tom Homan, the administration’s border czar and former ICE director, would meet directly with Frey on Tuesday. That alone is a noteworthy development given how aggressively Frey and other Minnesota Democrats have attacked Operation Metro Surge, the federal deployment of ICE and Border Patrol agents across the Minneapolis metro area.
Minnesota has become ground zero in the national immigration fight after the Trump administration launched the surge to target illegal immigrants with criminal records. That is the part critics keep trying to ignore. Federal officials have been clear that this is not random enforcement, it is focused on criminals. But progressive activists and local leaders responded with predictable outrage, lawsuits, and street protests that quickly spiraled out of control.
Tensions exploded after two fatal encounters involving federal agents, including the death of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti during a confrontation with Border Patrol earlier this month. That incident triggered days of unrest, with protests turning violent and activist groups openly calling for a general strike and the removal of federal agents from the city. In other words, exactly the kind of response that convinces Washington even more enforcement is needed.
President Trump has not backed down. He has repeatedly blamed Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Frey for years of sanctuary-style policies that undermine public safety. According to Trump, refusing to cooperate with federal law enforcement creates the chaos now playing out on Minnesota streets. He has demanded full cooperation with ICE, the transfer of detained illegal immigrants, and an end to policies that shield criminals from deportation. He has also renewed calls for Congress to ban sanctuary cities altogether.
Frey, for his part, has taken the opposite approach, accusing the federal presence of inflaming tensions and making the city less safe. He has pushed for scaling back the enforcement surge and explored legal avenues to limit federal authority within city limits. That argument rings hollow to anyone watching Minneapolis burn while politicians argue about jurisdiction.
Still, President Trump struck a more conciliatory tone Monday, suggesting discussions are ongoing and hinting that some federal agents could eventually leave Minneapolis at the request of local officials. No formal drawdown has been announced, but placing Tom Homan at the center of talks signals that enforcement is not going away quietly.
For now, Minneapolis remains the test case. Whether these talks lead to cooperation or just another round of excuses will shape not only what happens in Minnesota, but how far local resistance can go before federal law enforcement draws a firm line.
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