Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey addressed members of the city’s Somali community over the weekend, calling them “our family” as he voiced support and highlighted their impact on Minneapolis during a Somali Independence Day celebration.
His comments came while Minnesota remains under continued scrutiny tied to several major fraud probes. They also followed a Republican-led House Oversight Committee report that accused Gov. Tim Walz’s administration of failing to respond to repeated warnings about extensive fraud in state 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 Somali community members 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 continued. “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 be referring to Operation Metro Surge, an immigration and public safety effort launched in Minnesota under the Trump administration.
That operation ended in February after border czar Tom Homan said it had led to more than 4,000 arrests across the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and had helped reduce what he characterized as threats to public safety.
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Frey later posted video of the remarks on X, adding the message, “Happy Somali Independence Day.”
“Here in Minnesota, home to one of the largest Somali communities in the United States, we celebrate the resilience, culture, and leadership that continue to enrich our city and community,” he said.
Earlier this month, a Republican-led House Oversight Committee report alleged Walz’s administration repeatedly failed to act on warnings about fraud involving state social services programs, including the Feeding Our Future scandal.
The committee said 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 report also alleged concerns about potential racial discrimination claims contributed to delays in addressing suspected fraud and estimated Minnesota lost roughly $300 million in stolen federal child nutrition funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Walz administration officials have disputed the committee’s findings.
Fox News Digital’s Adam Pack contributed to this report.
