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 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."
"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.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans say the House Oversight Committee report documents a pattern of inaction by the Walz administration despite multiple warnings about potential fraud in social services programs. They argue this represents a failure of administrative oversight regardless of which community was affected.
"The committee's investigation shows that concerns about potential racial discrimination claims contributed to delays in addressing suspected fraud," according to the Republican report. "This approach prioritized political considerations over protecting taxpayer dollars."
Conservative critics say Frey's remarks, while emotionally resonant, sidestep the serious accountability questions raised by the fraud investigations. They note that more than 110 people have been charged in connection with various fraud schemes, and they argue local officials should focus on ensuring such crimes are prevented rather than offering solidarity messages.
Operation Metro Surge supporters say the initiative successfully targeted public safety threats in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Border czar Tom Homan has pointed to the operation's results as evidence of the administration's commitment to immigration enforcement in cities that have resisted federal cooperation.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic officials and progressive advocates have defended Frey's remarks as a message of inclusion that separates criminal fraud committed by individuals from immigrant communities broadly.
Supporters argue that the mayor's solidarity statement reflects Minneapolis's long-standing values as a sanctuary city and its commitment to treating all residents with dignity regardless of immigration status. They note that the vast majority of Somali immigrants in Minnesota are law-abiding citizens who contribute meaningfully to the local economy, culture, and civic life.
Democratic critics of the House Oversight Committee report say it conflates criminal cases involving some individuals from the Somali community with broader immigration enforcement priorities. They argue this approach risks punishing entire communities for the actions of a small number of bad actors.
Walz administration officials have disputed the committee's findings, stating that state agencies acted appropriately once fraud was identified and that efforts to combat fraud were complicated by legal restrictions on sharing information across agencies.
What the Numbers Show
According to the Republican-led House Oversight Committee report, more than 110 people have been charged in connection with various fraud schemes in Minnesota, including many defendants identified as members of Minnesota's Somali immigrant community.
The committee estimated Minnesota lost roughly $300 million in stolen federal child nutrition funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, much of it tied to the Feeding Our Future scandal involving alleged fraudulent claims for school meal programs.
Operation Metro Surge resulted in more than 4,000 arrests in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area before concluding in February, according to figures provided by border czar Tom Homan's office.
Minnesota is home to one of the largest Somali communities in the United States, with significant populations concentrated in Minneapolis and surrounding Hennepin County.
The Walz administration has disputed the committee's methodology and findings, though specific counter-figures have not been publicly released.
The Bottom Line
Frey's remarks highlight the tension between local officials' efforts to maintain inclusive messaging toward immigrant communities and federal scrutiny over fraud investigations that have affected some residents of those communities. The mayor's message of solidarity drew support from community members while drawing criticism from those who say accountability concerns are being overlooked.
The House Oversight Committee report is expected to continue generating political debate in Minnesota as the Walz administration pushes back against what it characterizes as an incomplete and misleading characterization of state actions. Congressional Republicans have not announced additional investigative steps at this time.
What happens next: The Walz administration is likely to face continued questions about its handling of fraud warnings during future legislative sessions, while Minneapolis officials will need to balance their sanctuary city policies with cooperation requirements tied to federal funding programs.