Minnesota mayor, lawmakers celebrate Somali independence day: ‘We do not see you as immigrants’

On X, Frey wrote, "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."

Another video from the celebration showed a speaker telling the crowd, "Somalians are already home — right here in Minnesota!!!" as attendees waved Somali flags.

Lt. Governor of Minnesota Penny Flannigan wrote: "It was great to join the Somali community today at the Somali Independence Day Festival! Somali Minnesotans are a part of the fabric of our beautiful state. Trump's hate has no home here, and we're going to continue standing up for ALL of our neighbors."

Rep. Ilhan Omar's political team also highlighted the event on social media after the congresswoman attended both Minneapolis Pride festivities and the Somali Day Festival. "From Pride to the Somali Day Festival - dancing through the day with @IlhanMN," Team Ilhan wrote on X.

During the Somali Independence Day celebration, Frey addressed the crowd and referenced Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration and public safety initiative carried out by the Trump administration.

"Through the most difficult of times and through Operation Metro Surge, we all saw that they tried to come for some of us," Frey said. "And when that happens, we say that you're coming for all of us."

He added, "In Minneapolis, we loved our neighbors. In Minneapolis, we do not see you as immigrants. We see you as our family. You are our brothers. You’re our sisters. You have done so much for this incredible city, and for that, we stand with you."

Operation Metro Surge ended in February after border czar Tom Homan announced that more than 4,000 people had been arrested in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area during the operation.

Frey's statement come weeks after a Republican-led House Oversight Committee report alleged the administration of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz ignored repeated warnings about fraud involving state social services programs, including the Feeding Our Future scandal.

According to the committee, more than 110 people have been charged in connection with multiple fraud schemes in Minnesota, including many defendants identified as members of Minnesota's Somali immigrant community. The report also alleged concerns over potential racial discrimination claims contributed to delays in addressing suspected fraud and estimated that roughly $300 million in federal child nutrition funds were stolen during the COVID-19 pandemic.