New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Thursday, a day after a surge in federal immigration agents concluded, to discuss strategies for navigating increased federal immigration enforcement. The meeting, however, took an unexpected turn when the conversation drifted to the merits of bagels and the borough of Queens, as recounted by Frey during an appearance on “The Daily Demonstrate” with Jordan Klepper.
Klepper initiated the discussion about the meeting, questioning Frey about the advice exchanged between the two mayors regarding potential immigration enforcement surges in New York. Frey responded by highlighting a shared familial connection and a culinary preference. “Well first, we talked about Queens. It’s where most of my family is from, from Fresh Meadows!” Frey said. “We talked about bagels.”
Klepper, visibly amused, pressed Frey on the focus of the conversation. “You talked about that, and bagels?” he asked, before questioning whether more pressing matters were addressed. Frey assured Klepper that the discussion did include Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), but Klepper continued the comedic exchange, inquiring about the quality of bagels in Minneapolis.
“Actually, we’ve got some great bagel spots in Minneapolis, believe it or not,” Frey replied. “We’re coming into our own in a really beautiful way. The water’s good in Minneapolis and in New York City.”
Shifting to a more serious tone, Frey emphasized the importance of proactive engagement. He and Mamdani, he said, agreed that silence and attempts to avoid the attention of President Donald Trump’s administration would not be effective. “This is not a time to, like, bow your head in despair,” Frey stated. He further encouraged cities and businesses to openly oppose the federal government’s approach to immigration enforcement.
The meeting between the two mayors occurred as U.S. Border czar Tom Homan announced the winding down of “Operation Metro Surge” in Minneapolis, following agreements with local law enforcement and jails to detain undocumented immigrants. Homan stated that the operation had secured greater cooperation from jails than previously seen. Frey, prior to the meeting, indicated a willingness to collaborate with the federal government on preventing violent crime, but contrasted that with what he described as indiscriminate immigration enforcement, which he believes creates “chaos on the streets.”
Following the meeting, neither Frey nor Mamdani addressed reporters directly. A statement released by City Hall indicated that the two mayors discussed “shared values when it comes to keeping our cities safe as well as standing up for our vibrant immigrant communities.”
