Alina Habba Targets Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey With ‘Somali Sympathizer’ Claim Amid Immigration Tensions

A dispute over immigration enforcement and civic messaging

Senior Justice Department adviser Alina Habba has escalated a political dispute involving Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing him of being “a Somali sympathizer” as federal immigration enforcement actions and protests draw renewed national attention to Minnesota.

The comments surfaced in the context of a broader debate over how local governments should respond to stepped-up federal immigration operations and how elected leaders engage immigrant communities in public settings. The rhetoric has landed in Minneapolis as the city confronts community anxiety, public demonstrations and heightened scrutiny of local-federal relations.

What Habba said and what action was suggested

Habba’s remarks were paired with the suggestion that the Justice Department would pursue action tied to public conduct and rhetoric that federal officials argue could interfere with immigration enforcement or contribute to hostility toward federal agents. The dispute also centered on a widely circulated video of Frey attending Somali community celebrations, including footage showing him dancing and holding a Somali flag at a public event.

No publicly released court filings were identified that would, by themselves, establish a formal Justice Department case against Frey. The public record to date reflects a political and legal warning rather than a documented charge or lawsuit.

How Minneapolis has positioned itself on ICE cooperation

Minneapolis officials have repeatedly stated that the city does not participate in civil immigration enforcement and that city employees are restricted from assisting federal immigration operations that are civil in nature. In early December 2025, Frey appeared alongside other local leaders and the police chief at a city press conference addressing reports of a federal focus on Somali immigrants in the Twin Cities and urging residents to stay informed about rights and available resources.

That posture has become a flashpoint as federal actions in Minnesota have intersected with local concerns about due process, community safety and the risk of mistaken detentions.

Minneapolis’ Somali community and political cross-currents

Minneapolis and the broader Twin Cities region are home to one of the largest Somali communities in the United States, and Somali civic life has become a visible part of the area’s public culture and electoral politics. Frey has appeared at Somali community events and has used Somali-language messaging in public outreach, including after his 2025 reelection campaign.

At the same time, Minnesota has faced extensive investigations and prosecutions related to alleged fraud involving public programs. While those cases involve specific individuals and organizations, the topic has been used nationally to frame broader arguments about immigration, public spending and enforcement priorities—often in ways that have sparked accusations of stereotyping and collective blame.

Key points to watch next

• Whether the Justice Department announces a defined legal action, review, or referral involving Minneapolis officials.
• How Minneapolis manages public safety at demonstrations connected to immigration enforcement and community counterprotests.
• Whether city leaders propose changes to local ordinances governing cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The dispute illustrates a widening split between federal immigration enforcement priorities and Minneapolis’ stated approach of limiting city involvement in civil immigration operations, while continuing public engagement with immigrant communities.

As of this week, the central facts remain clear: a senior federal adviser publicly targeted the mayor with inflammatory language, the city has reiterated its non-cooperation stance on civil immigration enforcement, and Minneapolis is again at the center of a national argument over immigration, public order and political speech.