Minneapolis Mayor: ICE Flooded Minneapolis With 2,200 Agents (w/ Jacob Frey) | Bulwark Podcast
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖ICE deployed over 2,200 agents to Minneapolis, significantly outnumbering local police, with an alleged agenda to deport American citizens of Somali descent.
- ❖The shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent was unnecessary, and the agents failed to provide aid or allow medical assistance afterward.
- ❖Federal officials are blocking local and state investigations into the shooting and claiming absolute immunity for the agent, which Mayor Frey refutes.
- ❖ICE's presence has made Minneapolis less safe, with 50% of the year's shootings attributed to ICE agents, driving up crime rather than reducing it.
- ❖Minneapolis police officers are exhausted and caught in the middle, trying to maintain community trust while federal agents operate without accountability.
- ❖Mayor Frey condemns both federal overreach and local fraud, emphasizing individual accountability over collective blame for entire communities.
Insights
1ICE's Disproportionate Deployment and Alleged Unconstitutional Agenda
Mayor Frey states that ICE deployed over 2,270 agents to Minneapolis, drastically outnumbering local police. He speculates their initial directive was to find and deport Somalis, but upon realizing most are American citizens, they resorted to 'terrorizing people' without a clear, productive agenda. This deployment is seen as a border control operation far from any relevant border.
Mayor Frey: 'They've got somewhere in the range of 2,270 some odd agents and officers that have been deployed to the region. That so drastically outnumbers the amount of police that we've got.' () and 'I think that somebody from pretty high up told them, "Go to Minneapolis, find a bunch of Somalis to deport." Only thing is it doesn't exist because they're Americans.' ()
2Unjustified Shooting and Lack of Post-Incident Aid
The Mayor asserts that the shooting of Renee Good was 'totally unnecessary' and that ICE agents failed to provide immediate medical assistance, even blocking a doctor from helping as she bled out. He highlights the fundamental duty of law enforcement to help those in pain, regardless of who caused it.
Mayor Frey: 'It was unnecessary for them to be there... and there's no reason for her to be dead today for her kid to be orphaned.' () and 'They go a long period of time where they don't allow a doctor that wants to help.' () 'When you are a law enforcement officer, the most basic thing that you're supposed to do is that when somebody is in pain and especially dying, you help.' ()
3Federal Obstruction of Local Investigation and Misinformation
The federal government, including the Vice President, claimed absolute immunity for the ICE agent and blocked the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) from fully investigating. Mayor Frey refutes the absolute immunity claim, stating agents have qualified immunity, which requires them to be 'doing what you're supposed to be doing.' He also debunks federal claims that Renee Good ran someone over, was a domestic terrorist, or that the agent was severely injured.
Mayor Frey: 'They don't have absolute immunity any more than city officials have absolute immunity. They have qualified immunity.' () and 'The BCA... are getting blocked out... not getting access to the materials, not getting full access to the investigation itself and that just makes it feel like a cover-up.' ()
4ICE's Actions Undermine City Safety and Trust
Mayor Frey argues that ICE's presence has made Minneapolis less safe. He points out that of the two shootings in the city this year, one was by ICE, meaning ICE is responsible for 50% of the city's shootings. This directly contradicts the federal government's stated reason for being there (safety) and damages the trust local police have worked hard to build with the community post-George Floyd.
Mayor Frey: 'This year in Minneapolis there have been two shootings. Two. One of them was ICE. So literally 50% of these gunshots that have been fired in Minneapolis have been ICE. We are a safe city. Crime is down dramatically. They are driving it up.' () and 'We have worked so hard to generate trust between officers and community members... We've made huge strides.' ()
5City's Legal and Practical Dilemma in Responding to Federal Overreach
The city is exploring legal action against ICE. Practically, Minneapolis police face a difficult situation: while they legally could arrest federal agents for illegal actions, they are vastly outnumbered and outgunned by ICE, making direct confrontation a risk for 'warfare in the street' and further endangering citizens. The Mayor emphasizes keeping the peace while protecting residents.
Mayor Frey: 'We're still going through that... I think we've got a number of opportunities that we can move forward with hopefully in the very near future including judicial legal action.' () and 'From a legal perspective, yes. From a practical perspective... it does get kind of hard when they drastically outnumber us and they have bigger guns than we do.' ()
Bottom Line
The Mayor's call for musicians and performers to continue coming to Minneapolis, perform, and speak out against ICE actions.
This strategy aims to counter negative narratives about the city's safety, support the local economy, and leverage cultural influence to amplify the message against federal overreach, rather than boycotting the city.
Artists and public figures can use their platforms to support local communities facing federal challenges, providing both economic and moral support while raising awareness.
Lessons
- Advocate for clear jurisdictional boundaries and accountability mechanisms for federal law enforcement agencies operating within local communities.
- Support local leaders who challenge federal overreach and prioritize community safety and trust over politically motivated operations.
- Educate yourself and others on the rights of all residents, regardless of immigration status, and the limitations of federal agency powers.
- Promote community unity and de-escalation in response to provocative actions by external forces, as demonstrated by Minneapolis activists.
- Demand transparency and independent investigation into incidents involving federal agents, especially when local authorities are blocked from participation.
Notable Moments
Mayor Frey contrasts the current federal response to the ICE incident with the bipartisan cooperation seen after the 35W bridge collapse, where President George W. Bush provided assistance despite political differences.
This highlights a significant shift in federal-local relations, where a federal agency's actions are now causing harm and the federal government is obstructing local efforts, unlike past instances of national unity during crises.
Mayor Frey debunks the 'apocalyptic hellscape' narrative about Minneapolis by describing his morning routine (buying a raspberry white chocolate scone) while acknowledging the very real fear experienced by immigrant communities.
This illustrates the 'multiple truths' of the situation, countering political rhetoric with lived reality and emphasizing that while the city is functional, a specific segment of its population lives in fear due to federal actions.
Quotes
"I think that somebody from pretty high up told them, 'Go to Minneapolis, find a bunch of Somalis to deport.' And then they get here looking for the big meat packing plant or factory where they can find a bunch of undocumented Somalis. Only thing is it doesn't exist because they're Americans."
"When you are a law enforcement officer, the most basic thing that you're supposed to do is that when somebody is in pain and especially dying, you help. Even if you're the one that caused that pain from the beginning."
"This year in Minneapolis there have been two shootings. Two. One of them was ICE. So literally 50% of these gunshots that have been fired in Minneapolis have been ICE. We are a safe city. Crime is down dramatically. They are driving it up."
"From a legal perspective, yes. From a practical perspective to state the reality yeah, it does get kind of hard when they drastically outnumber us and they have bigger guns than we do. Um it it does and and here's the thing, we don't want to create warfare in the street."
"The fraud is real and is devastating... And for those that stole money they should get charged, prosecuted, arrested, and put in jail. Period... Whole communities, however, should not be held accountable."
Q&A
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