New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to meet Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to discuss public safety, immigrants

Mayors plan New York meeting focused on public safety and immigrant protections

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is traveling to New York City on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, for an in-person meeting with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, as the two Democratic leaders signal an interest in coordinating on shared urban policy challenges.

The meeting is expected to center on public safety strategies and how city governments are approaching protections for immigrant residents. Mamdani confirmed the planned discussion publicly earlier Thursday, framing the conversation around safeguarding all residents, including immigrants, in both jurisdictions.

Context: a newly seated New York mayor and an incumbent Minneapolis mayor

Mamdani began his term as mayor of New York City on Jan. 1, 2026, after winning the 2025 election. His early weeks in office have drawn national attention due to both the scale of New York City’s policy footprint and his political profile as a prominent figure in the Democratic Socialists of America-aligned wing of New York politics.

Frey, meanwhile, was re-elected in 2025 to a third term as Minneapolis mayor, in a city where public safety policy, police reform, and community trust remain central issues in local governance. Minneapolis also has a significant immigrant population, making immigration-related city policies a continuing focus for City Hall.

Scheduling overlap with a federal oversight hearing

Frey’s trip to New York comes as members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation spotlighted his absence from a Thursday morning oversight hearing convened by the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. During the hearing, Frey’s decision not to appear was criticized by Rep. Tom Emmer, Minnesota’s House Majority Whip.

The mayors’ meeting is scheduled for Thursday afternoon in New York.

What the two leaders may compare

While details of the agenda have not been released, the stated topics suggest the conversation could include city-level approaches to:

• policing and violence-prevention initiatives, including resource allocation and program evaluation;
• coordination between city agencies on emergency response and community services;
• municipal policies affecting immigrants, such as access to city services and interactions between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

“I look forward to getting to know him and also to speaking to the importance of protecting each one of our residents, including the immigrants who call both of our cities home,” Mamdani said Thursday in remarks about the meeting.

Why the meeting matters

Mayors of large U.S. cities frequently coordinate through informal networks and formal associations, particularly on issues where cities face similar operational constraints and policy pressures. A Frey–Mamdani meeting places Minneapolis in direct dialogue with the leadership of the nation’s largest city at a moment when public safety and immigration policy remain politically contested and operationally complex for local governments.

No joint statement or follow-up commitments were announced ahead of Thursday’s meeting.