Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey faced off against federal investigators and critics on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" Tuesday, as allegations of a conspiracy to impede immigration agents swirled around him. The Department of Justice had issued subpoenas to Frey and his administration in connection with an alleged plot to thwart immigration efforts.
Frey acknowledged that he has not received any official notice of the investigation, but expressed deep concern about the possibility of being targeted by federal authorities for simply speaking up on behalf of Minneapolis residents. He called such actions "un-American" and likened them to what happens in other countries where dissent is not tolerated.
"We're not trying to be difficult or obstructionist," Frey said. "We just believe that local elected officials, like myself, should be allowed to make decisions about our own communities, as long as we are doing so in a way that respects the rights of all citizens."
The probe centers on the city's opposition to immigration enforcement efforts, including an ICE raid last year that sparked widespread protests. Frey and other local officials have been vocal in their criticism of the Trump administration's policies.
"We've got tens of thousands of people peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights," Frey said. "You can't contain them to one park or one section of the city."
Frey also disputed claims by critics that Minneapolis is a sanctuary city, arguing that the city has worked with federal authorities on issues like crime and public safety.
"We have worked together when it's about getting bad guys off the street," Frey said. "But this is not that. This is about thousands of people being brought into our city without any oversight or transparency."
As the investigation continues, Frey emphasized his commitment to keeping Minneapolis safe, despite the presence of ICE agents and border control.
"We're doing everything we can to keep the peace, but you can't make our city safer by invading it with 3,000 ICE agents," he said. "That's just not how safety works."
Frey also expressed frustration with Governor Tim Walz, who has authorized the deployment of the Minnesota National Guard in response to protests.
"We're doing all we can to keep people safe," Frey said. "But when you bring 600 cops and 3,000 ICE agents into our city, that's not how you do it."
The controversy highlights deep divisions between local officials and federal authorities over immigration policy and enforcement. As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen what implications it will have for Frey and his administration.
Frey acknowledged that he has not received any official notice of the investigation, but expressed deep concern about the possibility of being targeted by federal authorities for simply speaking up on behalf of Minneapolis residents. He called such actions "un-American" and likened them to what happens in other countries where dissent is not tolerated.
"We're not trying to be difficult or obstructionist," Frey said. "We just believe that local elected officials, like myself, should be allowed to make decisions about our own communities, as long as we are doing so in a way that respects the rights of all citizens."
The probe centers on the city's opposition to immigration enforcement efforts, including an ICE raid last year that sparked widespread protests. Frey and other local officials have been vocal in their criticism of the Trump administration's policies.
"We've got tens of thousands of people peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights," Frey said. "You can't contain them to one park or one section of the city."
Frey also disputed claims by critics that Minneapolis is a sanctuary city, arguing that the city has worked with federal authorities on issues like crime and public safety.
"We have worked together when it's about getting bad guys off the street," Frey said. "But this is not that. This is about thousands of people being brought into our city without any oversight or transparency."
As the investigation continues, Frey emphasized his commitment to keeping Minneapolis safe, despite the presence of ICE agents and border control.
"We're doing everything we can to keep the peace, but you can't make our city safer by invading it with 3,000 ICE agents," he said. "That's just not how safety works."
Frey also expressed frustration with Governor Tim Walz, who has authorized the deployment of the Minnesota National Guard in response to protests.
"We're doing all we can to keep people safe," Frey said. "But when you bring 600 cops and 3,000 ICE agents into our city, that's not how you do it."
The controversy highlights deep divisions between local officials and federal authorities over immigration policy and enforcement. As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen what implications it will have for Frey and his administration.
So I'm reading this about Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey being investigated by the DOJ and I gotta say, I'm not buying it. 
The guy's just trying to do his job and protect the rights of his constituents, which seems pretty American to me. What's next, are they gonna come after other mayors who are speaking out against Trump's policies? 
Frey's got some good points there - sure, they've worked with federal authorities on certain issues, but that doesn't mean they're not also trying to protect the rights of people who are already here. 
