President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy troops as tensions escalate between protestors and federal agents in Minneapolis amid the Trump administration’s massive immigration crackdown in the region.
The threat follows a second shooting in a week involving federal officers during Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. On Jan. 7, an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good as she hit him with her car. On Jan. 14, a man was shot and wounded by another ICE officer after attacking the agent with a shovel and broom handle.
"If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don't obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State," Trump issued in a social media post.
Since the Department of Homeland Security deployed thousands of federal agents into Minnesota, fear and anger among residents have increased. Most recently, immigration officers have resorted to utilizing tear gas and pepper spray on demonstrators who’ve begun performing protests following the Jan. 7 Incident.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche also voiced his upset over Minnesota lawmakers’ handling of events, stating that both Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) have to be stopped from “terrorism.”
"Minnesota insurrection is a direct result of a FAILED governor and a TERRIBLE mayor encouraging violence against law enforcement. It's disgusting," Blanche posted on X. "Walz and Frey -- I'm focused on stopping YOU from your terrorism by whatever means necessary. This is not a threat. It's a promise."
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison responded to Trump’s threat, asserting that he would challenge the invocation in court. Ellison is currently suing the federal government in an effort to halt the surge of immigration enforcement in the state.
“I’m making a direct appeal to the President: Let’s turn the temperature down. Stop this campaign of retribution. This is not who we are,” Walz additionally commented via X.
