Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey warned that any White House move to invoke the Insurrection Act and flood the city with federal troops would be “a shocking step,” insisting that Minneapolis is already bringing crime down without outside help.
At a Glance
- Crime is down across vandalism, theft, and weapons violations in the last 28 days, city data shows.
- The Pentagon has quietly tagged active-duty troops for possible deployment if Trump activates the Insurrection Act.
- Frey and Governor Tim Walz are under Justice Department scrutiny for allegedly hindering immigration agents.
- Why it matters: The standoff could see U.S. soldiers policing a U.S. city amid protests over ICE’s fatal shooting of a local woman.
Frey told Jonathan P. Miller‘s “Meet the Press” that Minneapolis refuses to be intimidated. “We’re going to grin down this bear and do so again with peace,” he said to moderator Kristen Welker, pointing to fresh city statistics showing drops in vandalism, theft, and weapons violations during the past 28 days.
Assaults and auto thefts ticked up in the same window, but overall the mayor argues the trend is improving. “We don’t need more federal agents to keep people safe, we are safe,” he said.
Troops on Standby
Behind the scenes, the Pentagon has already identified active-duty units that could be placed on prepare-to-deploy orders, according to two U.S. officials. The units are drawn from a domestic response force under Northern Command. Both officials stressed the move is “prudent planning” and said they have no indication Trump has decided to invoke the act.
A White House official offered a similar line: “It’s typical for the Department of War to be prepared for any decision the president may or may not make.”
Trump floated the Insurrection Act last week, vowing to crack down on what he labeled “professional agitators and insurrectionists” amid renewed protests.
DOJ Probes Local Leaders
Separate from the military discussions, the Justice Department is investigating Frey and Democratic Governor Tim Walz for allegedly conspiring to impede federal immigration enforcement through public statements, News Of Los Angeles reported last week.
Frey said he has not received a subpoena. “It would be deeply concerning if the federal government is targeting someone for a product that is quite literally my job,” he said on “Meet the Press.” “It is my responsibility to speak on behalf of Minneapolis residents.”
Walz previously blasted the administration, saying, “Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic.”
ICE Shooting Sparks Outcry
Tensions escalated after an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Nicole Good during an immigration-related operation in Minneapolis. The incident drew larger federal law-enforcement presence and fresh street protests.
Hours after the shooting, Frey delivered a blunt message to ICE: “Get the f— out of our city.”
On Sunday he doubled down. “If the goal is safety, if the goal is maintaining a peace, I’ll tell you, there’s a very good antidote to some of the danger we’ve been seeing, and it’s just to have ICE leave,” he said.
Key Takeaways
- Minneapolis leaders are resisting federal pressure on two fronts: possible military deployment and an ongoing DOJ investigation.
- Local data shows crime falling in several categories, undercutting the administration’s public safety rationale for tougher action.
- The standoff centers on the Insurrection Act, a rarely used 19th-century law that allows a president to deploy troops domestically.
- With troops already earmarked and protests simmering, the next move rests with the White House.
