President Donald Trump announced late Monday that he held a “very good” phone conversation with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, signaling a possible shift in the escalating standoff between the Trump administration and Minnesota’s Democratic leadership over aggressive federal immigration enforcement in the state.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said progress was being made and confirmed that former ICE Director Tom Homan, now serving as the administration’s border czar, would meet directly with Frey on Tuesday to continue discussions. The announcement comes after more than a week of violent protests, unrest, and political backlash following a major federal immigration surge in Minneapolis.
Minnesota has emerged as ground zero in the national immigration debate after the Trump administration launched what officials describe as Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol agents across the Minneapolis metro area. The operation was aimed at arresting illegal immigrants with criminal records, according to federal officials, but quickly triggered fierce resistance from local leaders and progressive activists.
Tensions exploded after two fatal encounters between federal agents and Minnesota residents, including the death of 37 year old ICU nurse Alex Pretti during a confrontation with Border Patrol agents earlier this month. The incident sparked days of protests, some of which turned violent, along with a coordinated push by labor unions and activist groups calling for a general strike and the removal of federal agents from the city.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 07.01.2026 Law enforcement on site after the death of Renee Good, shot by an ICE agent
Trump has forcefully defended the federal operation, repeatedly blaming Democratic leaders in Minnesota for what he describes as years of sanctuary policies and obstruction of law enforcement. The president has accused Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Frey of creating conditions that invited chaos, arguing that refusal to cooperate with federal authorities undermines public safety.
In recent days, Trump publicly demanded that Minnesota officials fully cooperate with ICE, turn over detained illegal immigrants, and abandon sanctuary-style policies. He also renewed calls for Congress to ban sanctuary cities nationwide, framing the Minnesota unrest as a warning to other jurisdictions.
Mayor Frey has taken the opposite stance, condemning the federal presence as destabilizing and dangerous. He has argued that the influx of armed federal agents inflamed tensions and contributed to the deadly confrontations. Frey has called for the immediate scaling back of the enforcement surge and has explored legal options to limit federal activity within city limits.
Despite the heated rhetoric, Trump suggested a more conciliatory tone on Monday, stating that his conversation with Frey was productive and that discussions were ongoing. He also indicated that some federal agents could begin leaving Minneapolis following requests from local officials, though no formal drawdown has been announced.
The administration has placed Tom Homan at the center of negotiations and enforcement oversight, a move seen by allies as an effort to impose stricter command discipline while maintaining pressure on local leaders to comply with federal law.
For now, all eyes remain on Minneapolis, where the outcome of talks between federal officials and city leaders could shape the next phase of Trump’s immigration agenda and define the limits of local resistance to federal authority.
