Kicking off a massive social media firestorm, Jacob Frey, the woke mayor of Minneapolis, promised to defy President Trump’s immigration enforcement measures in a recent statement. Frey said that his city will be a “safe haven” for undocumented immigrants and transgender people, while on stage with Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar.

For context, Jacob Frey’s tenure as Minneapolis mayor has been mired in controversy. A member of the far-left Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, Frey has faced criticism for mishandling the 2020 George Floyd riots and for his city’s ballooning cost of living.

In any case, the story was initially broken by prominent conservative voice, Libs of TikTok, who posted a video of Frey ranting while “squad” member Ilhan Omar looked on. In the March 21, 2025, post, she said, “Minneapolis Mayor, together with Ilhan Omar, declares that his city is a safe haven for criminal illegal aliens and he will protect them.”

Beginning his controversial address, Mayor Frey promised to defy Donald Trump. He said, “I want all of you just to know exactly where we are, as far as our neighbors go. Minneapolis will continue to be a safe haven for undocumented immigrants, for our trans community, regardless of who you are or where you come from. Minneapolis is a place where you should be proud to call home.”

In the comments under Libs of TikTok’s post, conservatives were incensed by the tone-deaf comments. Many users objected to his focus on immigrants, given the problems faced by Minneapolis citizens. One such comment read, “Minneapolis currently has the highest distressed loan rates in the country. That means that Minneapolis residents are defaulting on housing faster than any other city in the country, all due to this guy’s “progressive” policies and that of the governor, Tampon Tim.”

Building on that point, others noted that Frey’s remarks may be criminal. A reply read, “Facilitating foreign invasion is the literal definition of treason.” Another user asked, “What is the left’s obsession with harboring criminals? An @IlhanMN is the perfect example of a criminal to be on stage! She should be in jail for her immigration fraud.” Agreeing with the previous post, one comment read, “Ilhan Omar is one of those who need to be deported. @PamBondi @RealTomHoman when will you all hold this b**ch accountable for immigration fraud???”

Continuing the beatdown, other replies decry what leftist politicians have done to Minnesota. One such comment stated, “I grew up in Mpls. / Minnesota in the early 90’s; the “mini-apple” was a wonderful place to live. The city is now a sh*t-hole and absolutely unrecognizable. If you have a work ethic and any sense of morality, I highly recommend leaving as soon as you can…”

Rounding out the comments, several accounts joked that this could be good for the rest of America. One user declared, “Awesome. This helps draw them out of the general population of the country and concentrate them in one place. Yes, go to Minneapolis, the land of safe haven… may it go well for you all there.” Another chimed in, “Red states should send their illegals to Minneapolis. See how long it takes for the city to go bankrupt paying for them all.”