A Minnesota state senator running for mayor of Minneapolis is openly promising to defy federal immigration law if elected — prioritizing the protection of individuals in the country illegally over cooperation with Washington.
Omar Fateh, a self-described socialist, told a reporter that his “first” priority as mayor would be to confront what he called a “hostile federal government,” pointing directly to President Donald Trump, the Republican-led Congress, and the current Supreme Court.
On camera, when asked about his first priority if elected, he did not name public safety, economic growth, or infrastructure. He said this:
“A hostile federal government, with not only Donald Trump in office, but he essentially has a trifecta with both chambers of Congress and the Supreme Court. A lot of our neighbors, especially our undocumented residents, are very concerned.”
Translation: Day one, his focus would be confronting the federal government to shield people who are in the country illegally.
That pledge is not a side note — he made it clear it would be his first order of business.
Under federal law, immigration enforcement is not optional. Municipal leaders are not empowered to override it. Yet Fateh is promising to use his mayoral authority to oppose it. The practical result? A city hall that works to keep federal officers from enforcing the law within city limits.
This is not a hypothetical. Other progressive mayors have adopted similar stances, with consequences ranging from legal challenges to surges in crime tied to individuals who were shielded from deportation. Fateh is signaling Minneapolis could be next.
He already holds elected office. He knows how city and state governments operate. And he’s openly telling voters he would leverage that knowledge to block federal action on immigration.
The question now is not whether Omar Fateh can attempt this — it’s whether Minneapolis voters are prepared for the legal and public safety battles that would follow.
Democrat socialist Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh says his top priority will be protecting criminal illegal aliens from our "hostile federal government."? pic.twitter.com/Uv26gf7uGE
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 11, 2025