Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said Wednesday that the ongoing unrest in the city is “not sustainable,” as protests continued following a second recent shooting involving a federal immigration enforcement officer. The situation has added to mounting tensions in Minneapolis, where demonstrations have been occurring in response to high-profile federal law enforcement actions during Operation Metro Surge.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot a person in the leg after the individual allegedly attacked the officer during an enforcement action. Both the officer and the person who was shot were transported to a hospital, and authorities reported that neither sustained life-threatening injuries. The incident drew significant local attention and contributed to ongoing protests across the city.
In a social media post Wednesday evening, Frey said that regardless of the circumstances surrounding the shooting, the pace of unrest and its impact on the city cannot continue without consequences for public safety and local resources. He noted the strain on emergency responders and the community as demonstrations have expanded and drawn broader participation.
Frey said that approximately 600 Minneapolis Police Department officers have been deployed to help maintain public safety, while roughly 3,000 federal officers have been sent to Minnesota as part of the immigration enforcement surge. The large federal presence has been a point of debate among city and state leaders, some of whom have called for changes to how enforcement operations are conducted.
The mayor urged residents to remain calm and called for peaceful demonstrations, while also criticizing aspects of the federal response. Minneapolis remains on edge following a series of controversial enforcement incidents, including a fatal shooting earlier this month, and community members and officials continue to discuss the role and tactics of federal immigration agents.