On Wednesday, President Trump slammed Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Truth Social. He claimed the mayor broke the law after Frey said, “Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws.”
“Could somebody in his inner sanctum please explain that this statement is a very serious violation of the Law, and that he is PLAYING WITH FIRE!” Trump wrote.
Frey made the comment a day earlier while talking to White House border czar Tom Homan. Trump had sent Homan to Minneapolis to take over immigration operations. Frey told him local police would not enforce federal immigration rules.
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Earlier this week, Trump had sounded calmer toward Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. He seemed to be trying to cool criticism after two federal agents died in the city in less than three weeks. But the calm didn’t last long.
Trump called Frey’s statement “surprising” after what he described as a “very good conversation” with the mayor. Almost immediately, he went back to attacking the city.
Frey fired back: “The job of our police is to keep people safe, not enforce fed immigration laws.”
Courts have long made it clear that the federal government cannot force states or cities to enforce immigration law. Sanctuary city policies, which limit local cooperation with federal authorities, are legal. The 1997 Supreme Court case Printz v. United States confirmed it. Justice Antonin Scalia wrote that states keep certain powers under the Constitution, and forcing local police to enforce federal law is not allowed.
Illinois and Minnesota have already pushed back. Governors and mayors, including J.B. Pritzker and Brandon Johnson, blocked federal agents from taking control. Both states also filed lawsuits to stop the federal surge.
Trump has attacked sanctuary cities for years. He claims they protect “criminals” and has threatened to cut federal funding.
“No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims. They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World. Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!” he wrote last April.
Trump also called on Congress to “immediately pass legislation to END Sanctuary Cities,” adding, “American Cities should be Safe Sanctuaries for Law Abiding American Citizens ONLY, not Illegal Alien Criminals who broke our Nation’s Laws.”
Politico reporter Kyle Cheney pointed out a big problem for Trump. The administration is already in a federal court fight with Minnesota over “Operation Metro Surge.” The state says the program is not a real immigration effort, but a way to pressure local officials to change policies they oppose. Cheney noted Trump’s posts could give Minnesota strong evidence in court.
He added that warnings like “playing with fire” could be interpreted as threats or attempts to intimidate local officials. Courts have repeatedly said the federal government cannot coerce states to enforce federal law.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
