Minneapolis Mayor Says Some Federal Agents Will Start Leaving the City
Comments
Link successfully copied
Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino (C) in Minneapolis on Jan. 21, 2026. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
By Jill McLaughlin
1/26/2026Updated: 1/26/2026

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said after speaking with President Donald Trump that he expects that some federal agents will start leaving the city on Jan. 27.

“I expressed how much Minneapolis has benefited from our immigrant communities and was clear that my main ask is that Operation Metro Surge needs to end,” Frey wrote on X. “The president agreed the present situation can’t continue.”

Trump said that the conversation with Frey was “very good” and that progress was made. The president announced earlier that he was sending border czar Tom Homan to the city in the wake of the shooting of a man protesting against immigration enforcement on Jan. 24.

“Tom Homan will be meeting with [Frey] tomorrow in order to continue the discussion,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

The mayor said he would continue pushing for all federal agents to leave the city.

“Minneapolis will continue to cooperate with state and federal law enforcement on real criminal investigations—but we will not participate in unconstitutional arrests of our neighbors or enforce federal immigration law,” Frey stated on X.

Trump also spoke with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz earlier on Jan. 26, reporting that the two were on a “similar wavelength” about the ongoing unrest in the city.

The phone calls came days after Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, was fatally shot on Jan. 24 by Customs and Border Protection officers in Minneapolis. Weeks earlier, Renee Good was killed after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fired into her vehicle. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the officer was struck by the vehicle and sustained injuries in the incident.

Walz said he had a productive call with Trump and told the president they needed “impartial investigations of the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents.“ He also said it was necessary to ”reduce the number of federal agents in Minnesota.”

Walz and Frey have repeatedly encouraged the public to protest and demonstrate against immigration operations taking place in the state, at some points using profanity to tell federal officers to leave.

Trump presented a three-point plan to Walz during the call, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The plan calls for Walz, Frey, and other Minnesota leaders to turn over all criminal illegal immigrants who are currently in custody in state prisons and jails to federal authorities. Those with active warrants or known criminal histories would be immediately deported, Leavitt said during a press briefing on Jan. 26.

The plan also calls for state and local law enforcement to agree to turn over all illegal immigrants who are arrested by local police and for local police to help federal law enforcement in arresting and detaining illegal immigrants who are wanted for crimes, especially violent crimes, she said.

Leavitt said Pretti’s shooting is being investigated by DHS and the FBI. DHS is also conducting an internal investigation.

Walz said the president agreed to talk with DHS about ensuring that the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is able to conduct an independent investigation of the shooting.

Share This Article:
Jill McLaughlin is an award-winning journalist covering politics, environment, and statewide issues. She has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico. Jill was born in Yosemite National Park and enjoys the majestic outdoors, traveling, golfing, and hiking.

©2023-2026 California Insider All Rights Reserved. California Insider is a part of Epoch Media Group.