Minneapolis far-left Mayor Jacob Frey abruptly shifted a public address into Somali, all while promising that city police will refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
At a press conference held on Tuesday, Frey stood alongside St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, Ward 6 Council Member Jamal Osman, Police Chief Brian O’Hara, and other city leaders, reacting to reports that the federal government is preparing a targeted immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
The planned operation reportedly intends to deploy some 100 federal agents to focus on residents of Somali descent, including both ‘documented’ immigrants and those with final deportation orders.
“Minneapolis is proud to be home to the largest Somali community in the country,” said Mayor Jacob Frey.
“They are our neighbors, our friends, and our family – and they are welcome in our city. Nothing Donald Trump does will ever change that.”
Then, as if reading from a different script, Frey pivoted mid-speech and addressed part of his remarks directly in Somali: “We love you, we stand with you, we aren’t backing down.”
WATCH:
BEYOND PARODY: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says he will refuse to cooperate with ICE and then begins speaking in Somali mid-speech pic.twitter.com/5r3pgWJztF
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) December 2, 2025
This is not the first time the far-left mayor has drawn backlash from conservatives for switching into Somali during public remarks.
After a second round of ranked-choice voting, Frey narrowly fended off a challenge from Minneapolis state Sen. Omar Fateh — a self-described socialist and the first Somali American and first Muslim to serve in the Minnesota Senate.
Following his victory, Frey addressed a crowd of Somali residents and repeatedly thanked them in Somali.
“To the great people of Minneapolis, and I say that very intentionally, because no matter where you are from, Minneapolis should be a place where you are proud to call home,” he said.
He went on to recite a list of regions in Somalia, adding: “Whether you are from Bosaso or Mogadishu, whether you are from Hargeisa or Garowe, whether you are from Beledweyne or southwest, Minneapolis is a place where you come to seek prosperity, where you come to raise your family.”
He concluded: “Here is what this election means. This election means this is a moment for unity, where the entire Somali community can come together and say, ‘This is our people. This is our city. We are united behind each other.”
