Zohran Mamdani and Liberal Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey Meet at City Hall, Announce a ‘Coalition of Mayors’ To Stand Up to Trump

The Democratic mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, flew to New York City on Thursday to meet with the city’s Democratic Socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, to discuss how their blue, “sanctuary cities” can take a united stand against the Trump Administration’s controversial immigration crackdown.The meeting took place just hours after the Trump Administration announced it would be winding down its controversial immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities, which resulted in mass protests, thousands of arrests, and left two activists dead.Mr. Frey reportedly declined to appear alongside Minnesota State Attorney General Keith Ellison and immigration officials to testify – in what would turn out to be a heated hearing – about immigration enforcement before the Senate Homeland Security Committee. Instead, Mr. Frey — who was seen walking up the steps to City Hall on Thursday afternoon — decided to meet with Mr. Mamdani to discuss how to “make sure that our immigrant neighbors are protected, and mayors work together.”Mr. Mamdani confirmed the meeting during a press conference earlier Thursday.“I look forward to getting to know him and also to speaking about the importance of protecting each one of our residents, including the immigrants who call both of our cities home,” Mr. Mamdani added.Speaking with reporters before the meeting, Mr. Frey said that he is willing to work with the federal government to prevent violent crime and make “our city safe.”“We are willing to work together to catch perpetrators of shootings and homicides, and rape,” said Mr. Frey. “But what we’re not gonna make this about is where you’re from. It should be about the infraction that makes your city less safe,” he added.After the meeting, Mr. Frey posted on X a photo of himself and Mr. Mamdani, saying the two men had a “meaningful conversation.”“We’re building a coalition of mayors ready to lead,” he added. In a statement, Mr. Mamdani’s office said the two men “discussed their shared values when it comes to keeping our cities safe as well as standing up for our vibrant immigrant communities.”Earlier Thursday, the Trump border tsar, Tom Homan, announced he would be ending Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities, which the Department of Homeland Security called its “largest immigration enforcement ever,” which he said was a “great success.” “I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude,” Mr. Homan said at a press conference in Minneapolis. “The surge is leaving Minnesota safe.”During his announcement, Mr. Homan acknowledged Mr. Frey, a Democrat, for “taking a public stance against agitators setting up barricades that block streets.” He also thanked Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, for “his message of peace.” The olive branch was in stark contrast to the Trump Administration’s denunciations of Messrs. Frey and Walz at the height of the immigration enforcement operation — and the two men responded in kind, often using invective.Federal authorities said the operation resulted in more than 4,000 arrests in the state. But it also ignited sometimes violent clashes between protesters and federal authorities, including the fatal federal officer-involved shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in separate incidents.“I don’t want to see any more bloodshed. I pray every night for the safety of our law enforcement personnel and the safety of those in the community,” Mr. Homan said Thursday.A “significant drawdown” has already started this week and will continue into the following week, he said. Last week, Mr. Homan announced the removal of 700 federal immigration agents, with the remaining 2,000 or so agents expected to gradually leave Minnesota. Mr. Homan was deployed to Minnesota to replace the Border Patrol senior official overseeing the agency’s enforcement operations, Greg Bovino, who has since been demoted by President Trump to sector chief in El Centro, California.Mr. Mamdani has been outspoken about his plans to “Trump-proof” New York’s immigrant community from federal enforcement. This month, Mr. Mamdani signed an executive order, “Protecting New Yorkers from Abusive Immigration Enforcement,” that prohibits federal agencies from entering city property, such as parking garages and hospitals, without a warrant, among other protections.

Zohran Mamdani and Liberal Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey Meet at City Hall, Announce a ‘Coalition of Mayors’ To Stand Up to Trump

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