Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey sharply criticized federal immigration authorities following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation, issuing a profanity-laced statement that drew swift backlash from conservatives and renewed scrutiny of the city’s relationship with federal law enforcement.
In a statement posted to social media, Frey said the presence of federal immigration enforcement agents was “causing chaos in our city” and making residents less safe. He urged ICE to “get the f*** out of Minneapolis,” adding that the city stood “rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities.”
ICE, get the fuck out of Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/1gfFC0Le6Q
— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) January 7, 2026
The City of Minneapolis echoed the mayor’s remarks, saying ICE activity had heightened tensions and contributed to unsafe conditions. Rep. Ilhan Omar also weighed in, posting on social media that ICE must “stop terrorizing our communities and leave our city.”
Frey later doubled down on his comments during public appearances, dismissing criticism of his language and accusing federal officials of mischaracterizing the shooting. Speaking during a televised interview Wednesday night, the mayor said he did not regret his remarks.
“I’m so sorry if I offended their Disney princess ears, but here’s the thing — if we’re talking about what’s inflammatory, on one hand you got someone who dropped an f-bomb, and you got someone who killed somebody else,” Frey said. “I think the most inflammatory action is killing somebody. And so once again, let’s be real and just honest and straight up about what’s happening here. This is not OK.”
The mayor also accused ICE of attempting to “spin” the incident and described the agency’s account of the shooting as “bulls***.”
Frey’s response drew immediate criticism from conservative commentators, who accused the mayor of escalating tensions in the aftermath of the shooting.
Federal officials rejected the mayor’s characterization of the incident. Vice President JD Vance pushed back against liberal assertions that Good was an innocent motorist.
🚨 HOLY CRAP. JD VANCE IS LIVID!
"Everybody repeating the lie this is some innocent woman out for a drive in MN – YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU."
"What that headline leaves out is the fact that that very ICE officer nearly had his life ENDED,… pic.twitter.com/eGGZR6qArh
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 8, 2026
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem responded to Frey’s comments during a media appearance, defending the actions of the ICE agent involved.
“I say that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Noem said. “It’s very clear that this individual was harassing and impeding law enforcement operations. Our officer followed his training, did exactly what he’s been taught to do in that situation, and took actions to defend himself and defend his fellow law enforcement officers.”
