Mayor Jacob Frey runs through Minneapolis in new tourism video after ICE surge

Deena Winter, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Mar 18, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

MINNEAPOLIS — Mayor Jacob Frey runs through the streets of the city — clad in an ensemble of dress clothes and running shoes — in a new city video inviting people to visit Minneapolis, which is trying to get back on its own feet after the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

While the number of federal agents has dwindled, the damage remains: Minneapolis officials have estimated Operation Metro Surge caused over $203 million in losses to the city’s economy. The preliminary estimate said 20% of the city’s residents were left in need of help getting food; small businesses lost $80 million in revenue; $5 million worth of hotel rooms were cancelled per week; and the city’s financial stability became precarious.

During and after the surge, Frey took on the role of spokesman for the city, doing multiple interviews with national news outlets, appearing on national podcasts and “The Daily Show,“ and speaking at a star-studded protest event during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech.

Now, the city and Meet Minneapolis, the city’s convention and visitors bureau, have made a video in which Frey is front and center, talking about how he fell in love with the city while running in the Twin Cities Marathon, and decided to move here. The video is only circulating on social media for now.

Frey is a former professional runner, and in the video, he laces up his running shoes on a stoop of City Hall — while wearing a dress shirt and pants — and takes viewers on a jog through the city, running across the Stone Arch Bridge and bragging up the Mississippi River, lakes, museums, theaters, and cultural corridors.

In a nod to the city’s headline-making response to Operation Metro Surge — residents rose up to alert their neighbors, protest and sometimes physically block ICE agents — Frey says in the video, “In Minneapolis, we stand up for all our neighbors and we can’t wait to welcome you.”

Frey’s press secretary said the only cost associated with the video is staff time — a city communications team helped film and edit the video, and Meet Minneapolis provided B-roll.

In response to the video, City Council Member Jason Chavez, a frequent critic of Frey, said, “Bringing people to visit Minneapolis is important, but tourists alone won’t make up the fact that Mayor Frey won’t help his own constituents who are struggling to avoid eviction by vetoing policy.”

Chavez was referring to Frey’s recent veto of an ordinance that would given renters an additional 30 days to avoid being evicted.