Mayor Frey Vows Continued Resistance to Federal Operation as Subzero Protests Grip Minneapolis

Minneapolis Mayor Defies Federal Subpoenas Amid Crisis

Today, Saturday, January 24, 2026, Minneapolis remains at the center of an unprecedented political and humanitarian crisis as Mayor Jacob Frey issued a scathing rebuke of the federal government’s "Operation Metro Surge." In an early morning press briefing, Frey addressed the community as thousands of protesters gathered in downtown Minneapolis despite life-threatening temperatures reaching minus 24 degrees Celsius.

The mayor’s remarks follow a week of escalating tensions between the City of Minneapolis and the federal administration. Following a statewide general strike on Friday, January 23, that saw over 15,000 people take to the streets, the local government is now focused on the legal and physical safety of residents as federal agents continue their presence. Frey confirmed today that he will not be intimidated by recent subpoenas issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, which is currently investigating his public statements regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the city.

Focus on the Shooting of Renee Macklin Good

At the heart of today’s government activity is the ongoing fallout from the January 7 killing of Renee Macklin Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Mayor Frey has publicly disputed the official federal account of the incident, labeling the narrative "bulls***" and calling for the immediate withdrawal of federal officers. The Mayor’s Office is working in coordination with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who has filed a lawsuit to halt the federal deployment, citing unconstitutional tactics and widespread racial profiling.

Grassroots Response and Public Safety

While the City Council does not have a formal legislative session scheduled for this Saturday, city leaders have shifted their focus to supporting community-led safety initiatives. In South Minneapolis, a volunteer force of over 100 residents has begun patrolling neighborhoods to provide assistance to vulnerable populations and distribute information on constitutional rights. Local officials have signaled their support for these grassroots efforts as a necessary countermeasure to the presence of thousands of armed federal agents.

• Legal Developments: A federal judge has ordered the release of a two-year-old child detained during a recent traffic stop, with a full hearing on the state's lawsuit against federal overreach scheduled for Monday.
• Federal Pressure: Vice President JD Vance recently criticized local leadership for failing to cooperate with federal agents, a charge Mayor Frey explicitly rejected during today's briefing.
• Protest Movements: Thousands of clergy and labor leaders continue to occupy key areas of the city following yesterday's mass arrests at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

As the city enters the weekend, the standoff between local and federal authorities shows no signs of abating. Mayor Frey reiterated today that the city will use every available resource to protect its residents and uphold civil liberties against what he characterized as political retribution from Washington.