Trump tells Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey he’s ‘PLAYING WITH FIRE’ after city says it will not enforce federal immigration laws
President Donald Trump criticized Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Jan. 28, 2026, calling him “PLAYING WITH FIRE” after Frey said the city would not enforce federal immigration laws, prioritizing local public safety and the relationship between police and immigrant communities.
- Federal-local standoff: Trump warned Frey that Minneapolis’s refusal to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement carries legal and political risk, calling it a “very serious violation of the Law.” (See Time.)
- Mayor’s priority: Frey says Minneapolis police should focus on preventing homicides and maintaining public safety rather than enforcing federal immigration statutes, arguing enforcement undermines trust with immigrant communities. (See Minneapolis Mayor’s Office Jan. 7 statement.)
- Federal surge and backlash: The federal deployment led by border czar Tom Homan has sparked protests, legal challenges and widespread concern from local leaders. (Reporting includes Time and ABC News.)
- Broader implications: The dispute underscores legal limits on compelling local police to enforce federal immigration law and raises political and practical questions for other sanctuary cities, including Los Angeles.
Main report
Background and timeline
On Jan. 26, 2026, the federal government deployed White House border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis to oversee a focused immigration operation after weeks of unrest and clashes between federal agents and residents. That deployment followed protests, episodes involving crowd-control tactics and reporting of at least two fatal shootings involving federal agents in the period leading up to the operation. (Reporting: Time.)
Mayor Frey’s position
Frey told federal officials that Minneapolis police will not be deputized to enforce federal immigration statutes. He argued local officers must prioritize preventing violent crime and maintaining trust so residents—especially immigrant communities—continue to call 911 and cooperate with law enforcement. Frey framed this as essential to public safety and community trust. (See Minneapolis Mayor’s Office Jan. 7 statement and Time.)
President Trump’s reaction
“Very serious violation of the Law,” and Frey is “PLAYING WITH FIRE,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after what he described as a “very good conversation.” He urged someone in Frey’s “inner sanctum” to explain legal risk to the mayor. (Reporting: Time.)
Frey’s reply on X: He said local police should be focused on preventing homicides and keeping residents safe, not enforcing federal immigration laws. Frey also warned that targeting a working dad from Ecuador harmed trust and public safety, drawing comparisons to historic approaches in other cities.
Legal context: what cities can and cannot be forced to do
Legal experts and recent court rulings draw a distinction: the federal government has primary authority over immigration, but courts generally hold it cannot force states or municipalities to deputize local officers to enforce federal immigration statutes. That precedent underlies sanctuary policies that limit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Attempts in prior years to withhold funding from sanctuary jurisdictions were blocked or faced legal hurdles. (Summary reporting: Time.)
What Trump asked for — and the local response
According to reporting, the White House urged local leaders to have jails turn over people identified as undocumented to federal authorities, to commit to federal handovers, assist in tracking criminal undocumented immigrants and partner on removals. Federal officials characterized noncompliance as a challenge to the Supremacy Clause and national immigration laws. (See opinion reporting such as Fox News Opinion.)
Mayor Frey, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar pushed back, calling for ICE to withdraw agents from Minneapolis and Minnesota. Legal actions followed: state officials and other jurisdictions have filed lawsuits aimed at halting federal surges in some places. (See Minneapolis Mayor’s Office and Time.)
Reactions across the country
Mayors at a national conference warned aggressive federal tactics could erode trust between immigrant communities and municipal services. Some city leaders—including Republican mayors—said the presence of federal agents can make residents feel like they face an “occupying force,” reducing cooperation with local law enforcement. Conversely, critics argue noncooperation lets dangerous criminals avoid accountability; that line of criticism has been emphasized in opinion writing and some conservative outlets. (Coverage includes ABC News and Fox News Opinion.)
Incidents that increased tensions
Reporting tied the spike in tensions to several flashpoints: federal agents using crowd-control tactics at demonstrations, a vehicle crash-alley incident where observers were pepper-sprayed, and a string of violent episodes that fed a narrative of disorder. Those events blurred lines between immigration enforcement and public-order operations, raising questions about effects on everyday safety. (See reporting and commentary in ABC News and Fox News.)
Implications for Los Angeles, California
Economic impact: Threats to withhold federal funding raise concerns for large cities like Los Angeles that depend on federal grants for housing, public safety programs and social services. While courts have historically limited the federal government’s ability to cut funds over sanctuary policies, any renewed push or legal change would create budget uncertainty.
Political consequences: LA leaders must balance crime prevention with protections for immigrant communities. The Minneapolis dispute is likely to shape local debates ahead of municipal elections and further strain relations between city and federal leaders.
Social effects: Frey’s emphasis on preserving trust so people call 911 is directly relevant for Los Angeles: fear of immigration enforcement can reduce crime reporting and cooperation with police, undermining neighborhood safety.
Practical applications for residents: Expect renewed clarification of police priorities, expanded outreach to immigrant communities, multilingual “know your rights” campaigns and increased legal-aid capacity. Nonprofits and legal clinics may prepare for greater demand if federal actions expand.
Source list for this report
- Time: “Trump says Minneapolis mayor is ‘playing with fire’ after Frey says city won’t enforce federal immigration laws”
- Minneapolis Mayor’s Office: Jan. 7 statement and related releases
- ABC News: Mayors’ responses to federal immigration tactics
- Fox News Opinion: commentary and analysis of Frey’s stance
Reporting note
This story draws on reporting by Time, local statements from the Minneapolis mayor’s office, national coverage in ABC News, and commentary in other outlets. Links above lead to original material for readers who wish to review source reporting.
