US President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used law that could allow him to deploy federal troops, in response to ongoing protests in Minneapolis. The city is still reeling from the fatal shooting of Renee Good, 37, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on January 7.
The latest incident occurred when federal officers stopped a driver who was in the US illegally. The individual drove away and crashed into a parked car before fleeing on foot, at which point two other people emerged from a nearby apartment and began attacking the officer. In self-defense, the officer fired several shots, hitting one of the attackers.
Trump's threat came after an ICE agent shot and wounded another Minneapolis man in what federal authorities described as an attack with a shovel and broom handle. The incident has further inflamed tensions in the city, where demonstrations have erupted since Good's fatal shooting.
In a social media post, Trump directed his threat at Minnesota officials, accusing them of failing to control "professional agitators and insurrectionists." He claimed that if they did not obey the law and stop the protests, he would institute the Insurrection Act, which has been used by several presidents in the past, including George H.W. Bush in 1992.
The Insurrection Act allows the president to deploy federal troops or federalize the National Guard for domestic law enforcement purposes, typically with the objections of state governors. However, it is a rarely used law, and its application would be subject to immediate legal challenge from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has sharply criticized the federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, calling it "organized brutality" that has pushed the state into chaos. He warned that further escalation would only deepen the crisis and urged de-escalation.
The city's mayor, Jacob Frey, described the situation as unprecedented, saying the federal presence has overwhelmed his city. He characterized the deployment of federal agents as an "invasion," noting that it is five times larger than Minneapolis' police department.
Demonstrations have become routine on Minneapolis streets since Good's fatal shooting. Video and witness accounts from the scene show federal agents detaining people during traffic stops and at residences, a tactic that has fueled confrontations with bystanders who have demanded the officers leave the area.
The events in Minneapolis have also been felt in Michigan, where concerns about federal immigration enforcement have been building for months. In Detroit, residents and advocacy groups have organized protests and neighborhood alerts tied to ICE activity, urging city leaders to limit cooperation with federal agents.
As tensions continue to escalate, the situation remains fluid and uncertain. With no clear timeline for when Trump might invoke the Insurrection Act, Minnesotans are bracing themselves for the possibility of further violence and disruptions.
The latest incident occurred when federal officers stopped a driver who was in the US illegally. The individual drove away and crashed into a parked car before fleeing on foot, at which point two other people emerged from a nearby apartment and began attacking the officer. In self-defense, the officer fired several shots, hitting one of the attackers.
Trump's threat came after an ICE agent shot and wounded another Minneapolis man in what federal authorities described as an attack with a shovel and broom handle. The incident has further inflamed tensions in the city, where demonstrations have erupted since Good's fatal shooting.
In a social media post, Trump directed his threat at Minnesota officials, accusing them of failing to control "professional agitators and insurrectionists." He claimed that if they did not obey the law and stop the protests, he would institute the Insurrection Act, which has been used by several presidents in the past, including George H.W. Bush in 1992.
The Insurrection Act allows the president to deploy federal troops or federalize the National Guard for domestic law enforcement purposes, typically with the objections of state governors. However, it is a rarely used law, and its application would be subject to immediate legal challenge from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has sharply criticized the federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, calling it "organized brutality" that has pushed the state into chaos. He warned that further escalation would only deepen the crisis and urged de-escalation.
The city's mayor, Jacob Frey, described the situation as unprecedented, saying the federal presence has overwhelmed his city. He characterized the deployment of federal agents as an "invasion," noting that it is five times larger than Minneapolis' police department.
Demonstrations have become routine on Minneapolis streets since Good's fatal shooting. Video and witness accounts from the scene show federal agents detaining people during traffic stops and at residences, a tactic that has fueled confrontations with bystanders who have demanded the officers leave the area.
The events in Minneapolis have also been felt in Michigan, where concerns about federal immigration enforcement have been building for months. In Detroit, residents and advocacy groups have organized protests and neighborhood alerts tied to ICE activity, urging city leaders to limit cooperation with federal agents.
As tensions continue to escalate, the situation remains fluid and uncertain. With no clear timeline for when Trump might invoke the Insurrection Act, Minnesotans are bracing themselves for the possibility of further violence and disruptions.
... trump's threat to deploy federal troops is like, super concerning. i get that protests can get out of hand, but invoking the insurrection act? that's a big deal. it's not just about minnesota, either - michigan and detroit are feeling the effects too.
... we need to be careful with how we approach immigration enforcement. trump's just trying to score points, but at what cost? minnesotans deserve better than to feel like they're living in a war zone.
that's not how law enforcement works. it's creating more problems than it's solving.
minnesota is already feeling the strain with these protests & the federal agents making things worse by detaining ppl in traffic stops or at homes that's just not right 
i think trump's threatening to use the insurrection act is a really reckless move that will only lead to more violence & unrest 
what happens when someone like tim walz says minneapolis is "organized brutality" & trump still does nothing about it? 
this whole situation is a mess & needs some serious attention from both state & federal authorities ASAP 
I feel for the Minnesotans who are trying to deal with all this chaos 
they deserve so much better than to be treated like this 
can you imagine the stress and fear that's causing? i think it's super messed up that these protesters are being targeted and treated like they're some kind of threat 
we need to calm this situation down ASAP and work towards understanding each other instead of demonizing each other 
. The fact that ICE officers are detaining people during traffic stops and at their homes is just crazy 
. It's like they're trying to intimidate the community, rather than actually helping with immigration issues.
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. I hope Minnesotans can stay safe and that someone from Washington will listen to their concerns soon 
. We need to find a way to address these issues without resorting to violence or intimidation 
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Can you believe it? A president threatening to bring in the army to deal with some protests 
Anyway, I guess this is what they mean by "law and order"... 
and mayor frey is spot on when he says its an invasion five times bigger than the police dept lol. what if this leads to more protests and violence? im so worried about the safety of everyone involved 
. Trump's threat to deploy federal troops just shows how out of touch he is with reality... or maybe that's what makes him so effective at stirring up controversy 
. The fact that governors and state AGs are already pushing back against this makes me think it's gonna be a long and messy fight. What's next? Deploying troops to every city with ICE operations? I'm no expert, but this law has been around for over a century, what makes him think he can just use it willy-nilly? 
1st they gotta sort out minneapolis before talkin bout other cities. dont wanna see usa turn into war zone
and ill just say its not worth it for trump to use the insurrection act, its such a rare law and i think he's just trying to cover his behind 
or is this some kinda real thing?
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. Can't wait to see what kind of chaos he unleashes on the nation 
. It's all very confusing right now, and I just hope everyone stays safe 
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