US Vice-President JD Vance has launched a scathing attack on protesters in Minneapolis who have been physically confronting federal immigration agents, dismissing their actions as "cowardly bullshit" during a public appearance in Ohio.
Vance Urges Ballot Box Over Street Confrontations
Speaking at a factory in Toledo, Ohio, on Thursday morning, the Vice-President urged those with grievances about immigration enforcement to channel their efforts into political participation rather than direct action against agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
"If you want to turn down the chaos in Minneapolis, stop fighting immigration enforcement – we have to have a border in this country. It's not that hard," Vance stated, placing responsibility for the escalating tensions squarely on local resistance to federal operations.
Comparing Cities and Criticising Local Leadership
Vance drew direct comparisons between Minneapolis and other Democratic-led cities where local authorities have chosen to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. He specifically highlighted Memphis, Tennessee, and Austin, Texas, as examples of blue cities that have avoided similar unrest through collaboration between local police and ICE.
"When you look at Memphis, Tennessee, or Austin, Texas, or any other community virtually across the United States of America, and you don't see the same level of chaos in Minneapolis, the natural conclusion is that it's not what ICE is doing in Minneapolis, it's what Minneapolis authorities are doing to prevent ICE from doing their jobs," the Vice-President argued.
Accusations Against Minneapolis Mayor
The Vice-President specifically accused Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of instructing local police not to assist federal agents, which he claimed has forced ICE officers to conduct dangerous street-level operations without the protection typically provided during enforcement actions in other cities.
Vance revealed that in recent months, ICE has arrested multiple individuals in Minneapolis with convictions for sexual offenses, but that the lack of local cooperation has complicated these operations.
"They throw the sex offender in the back of a car, deport that person, throw them in jail, whatever, and then they go home safely with their families. That's not what's happening," Vance said, contrasting Minneapolis operations with standard procedures elsewhere.
Planned Minneapolis Visit and Broader Context
The Vice-President announced plans to travel to Minneapolis later on Thursday to meet with ICE personnel and local officials, promising to deliver a straightforward message about reducing tensions in the city.
His remarks come amid ongoing protests in Minneapolis where demonstrators have physically blocked ICE vehicles and thrown objects at agents, creating a volatile situation that has drawn national attention to the city's approach to immigration enforcement.
Vance's comments represent a significant escalation in the administration's rhetoric regarding cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, framing the issue as one of public safety and orderly governance rather than immigration policy alone.
