Jacob Frey praises the city's Somali residents during public remarks as Minnesota remains under scrutiny over high-profile fraud investigations involving some Somali-run organizations. (@MayorFrey via X)
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told members of the city's Somali community over the weekend that they are "our family," pledging solidarity and praising their contributions to the city during remarks celebrating Somali Independence Day.
Frey's remarks came as Minnesota continues to face scrutiny over several high-profile fraud investigations and weeks after a Republican-led House Oversight Committee report alleged the Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's administration failed to act on repeated warnings about widespread fraud in the state's social services programs.
"Through the most difficult of times and through Operation Metro surge, we all saw that they tried to come for some of us," Frey told members of the Somali community on Saturday. "And when that happens, we say that you're coming for all of us."
BLUE STATE’S ANTI-ICE PLEDGE COLLAPSES AS GOP WARNS OF NEW SANCTUARY ‘CONFEDERACY’
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks during a Somali Independence Day celebration in Minneapolis as attendees stand on stage holding Somali flags. (Credit: Mayor Jacob Frey X Post)
"In Minneapolis, we loved our neighbors. In Minneapolis, we do not see you as immigrants. We see you as our family," he added. "You are our brothers. You’re our sisters. You have done so much for this incredible city, and for that, we stand with you."
Frey appeared to reference Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration's immigration and public safety initiative in Minnesota.
The operation concluded in February after border czar Tom Homan announced it had resulted in the arrest of more than 4,000 people in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and had reduced what he described as publ
