Trump publicly warns Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey after dispute over city role in federal immigration enforcement
Escalating federal-local tensions after a presidential call
President Donald Trump issued a public warning to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey after Frey reiterated that the city will not enforce federal immigration laws. The warning followed a phone call between the two leaders on Monday, January 26, 2026, which Frey described as focused on ending a large federal immigration enforcement effort in the Twin Cities area known as “Operation Metro Surge.”
After the call, Frey said he told Trump that Minneapolis has benefited from immigrant communities and asked that Operation Metro Surge end. Frey also stated that some federal agents would begin leaving the area the next day, Tuesday, January 27, while he would continue pressing for additional departures. In the same period, Frey emphasized that Minneapolis would continue cooperating with state and federal partners on “real criminal investigations,” while declining to participate in what he characterized as unconstitutional arrests or to enforce federal immigration law.
Trump’s warning and the legal dispute over local obligations
On Wednesday, January 28, Trump responded publicly, criticizing Frey’s position and warning that the mayor was “playing with fire.” Trump also framed Frey’s statement as a potential legal violation and urged people around the mayor to convey the seriousness of the issue.
The exchange underscores a recurring fault line in U.S. immigration enforcement: federal authority over immigration policy versus the extent to which local governments and police departments are expected—or permitted—to assist. Federal officials may seek cooperation through information-sharing, detainer requests, and joint task forces, while many cities limit participation in civil immigration enforcement to prioritize local public safety goals and maintain community trust.
Operation Metro Surge and heightened scrutiny in Minnesota
The dispute has unfolded amid heightened scrutiny of federal activity in Minnesota, where immigration enforcement operations have generated public protests, political pushback, and court challenges. In late January, Minnesota’s federal courts were engaged in disputes involving alleged noncompliance with judicial orders connected to detentions arising from Operation Metro Surge, including warnings from a chief federal judge about potential contempt proceedings.
What Minneapolis leaders say the city will and will not do
Continue cooperating with state and federal authorities on criminal investigations.
Decline participation in civil immigration enforcement functions typically reserved to federal agencies.
Press for a reduction or end to the ongoing federal operation in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
The public split between the White House and Minneapolis City Hall now centers on the city’s role in immigration enforcement, as federal courts and local officials separately scrutinize the conduct and scope of the ongoing operation.
As of Wednesday, January 28, the White House warning and the mayor’s stance signal a continuing standoff over enforcement strategy, local cooperation, and the legal boundaries governing immigration actions in the Twin Cities.