Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says federal immigration agents will begin departing the city starting tomorrow, following a phone call with President Donald Trump aimed at easing the federal crackdown and the unrest that has followed.
In a statement, Frey said Trump “agreed that the present situation cannot continue,” and that some federal agents will start leaving the area as early as tomorrow. Frey added he plans to keep pressing for the rest of the personnel involved in the operation to withdraw.
“Minneapolis will continue to cooperate with state and federal law enforcement on real criminal investigations,” Frey said, “but we will not participate in unconstitutional arrests of our neighbors or enforce federal immigration law.”
Trump separately described the call as a “very good telephone conversation,” saying “lots of progress” had been made. Earlier Monday, Trump also said he and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appeared to be aligned after the two spoke by phone as well.
The developments come as the administration faces growing scrutiny in Minnesota following the fatal shooting of nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis — the second deadly encounter involving a federal officer in the city this month. Trump told reporters the White House is now “reviewing everything” related to the death, a case that has intensified political pressure and spilled into congressional action.
What to know
- Trump says the administration is “reviewing everything” tied to Pretti’s death.
- Gov. Tim Walz blamed “untrained” federal agents for the shooting.
- Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino said protesters and local officials “vilified” agents, calling the incident a “preventable tragedy.”
- Eyewitness videos are reported to conflict with DHS’s account of events.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said all video evidence will be analyzed.
- More than 100 lawmakers now back an impeachment resolution against Noem.
- Senate Democrats are threatening to block DHS funding, raising the risk of a government shutdown.
- Trump said Monday that White House “border czar” Tom Homan will oversee immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.
